Ukraine Loses Mi-24 Helicopter Crew During Combat Mission

The crew of an Mi-24 helicopter from Ukraine’s 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade “Kherson” was killed during a combat mission, the brigade reported.

“We regret to inform you of an irreparable loss. Our comrades – the crew of the Mi-24 helicopter – did not return from their combat mission,” the brigade said in a statement.

Officials did not disclose when or where the incident occurred.

“Only the best sons of Ukraine are capable of defending the Motherland so heroically and fighting so desperately in the sky against the occupier. They were true patriots, worthy people and officers with a capital letter,” the statement added.

The names of the fallen servicemen have not yet been released.

This is not the first such loss. On Dec. 18, 2025, the 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade named after Brig. Gen. Viktor Pavlenko also reported the death of an Mi-24 crew during a combat mission.

Among those killed was Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Shemet, who took part in the final air breakthrough to Azovstal. His brother Yuriy said the tragedy occurred in the Cherkasy region. According to a preliminary investigation, the helicopter collided with a Russian drone.

The Mi-24 (NATO reporting name: Hind) is a Soviet-era attack helicopter originally designed for infantry support and made famous during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. It remains in service with several countries, including Ukraine.

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Russia Strikes Civilian Vehicles, Railways, and Homes, Killing One

Russian forces intensified their attacks on civilian and logistical targets across Ukraine this weekend. In the Zaporizhzhia region, one man was killed and three others were injured after drones targeted civilian cars and residential homes in the Kushuhum community. In the Kharkiv region, a morning drone strike on the Lozova railway station injured two train operators and damaged locomotives.

Despite its age, the Mi-24 continues to play a vital role on multiple fronts – striking ground targets and regularly intercepting Russian Shahed drones during air attacks.

In September 2025, Ukraine’s 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade reported that Su-27 (NATO: Flanker) pilot Maj. Oleksandr Borovyk was killed in action during combat operations near Zaporizhzhia.

Borovyk, 30, was flying a combat mission on the Zaporizhzhia front when his fighter jet went down. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

His death marked Ukraine’s second loss of a Su-27 in 2025. Earlier, on April 28, another Su-27 was downed while repelling a Russian drone attack. In that incident, the pilot ejected safely and survived with minor injuries.

On the night of Aug. 22-23, 2025, a Ukrainian MiG-29 crashed during its landing approach after completing a combat mission, the Air Force said. The pilot, Maj. Serhiy Bondar (born 1979), was killed.

Bondar served with the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade “Ghost of Kyiv” and was deputy squadron commander. He had returned to active service after Russia’s full-scale invasion and was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class, by presidential decree on June 6, 2025.

On June 29, a Ukrainian F-16 pilot was killed while defending the country during a massive Russian air attack.

Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko, 31, died after his fighter jet sustained critical damage while intercepting Russian missiles and drones. During the mission, the first-class pilot destroyed seven enemy air targets before losing control of his aircraft. He managed to steer the jet away from populated areas but was unable to eject in time.