---
title: "Third Assault Brigade Destroys Russian Mi-8 Helicopter with Two Hornet Drones in Luhansk Region"
description: "The Third Assault Brigade destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter in the Luhansk region using two Hornet kamikaze drones. The strikes hit the fuel tank area, burning the aircraft down. This was reported by the Third Army Corps."
date: 2026-10-30T17:46:02.516Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/third-assault-brigade-destroys-mi-8-hornet-drones-luhansk
tags: [mi-8, hornet-drone, luhansk, ukraine-russia-war, unmanned-systems, military-aviation]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Third Assault Brigade Destroys Russian Mi-8 Helicopter with Two Hornet Drones in Luhansk Region

![Military Mi-8 helicopter flying over open terrain against the background of dense smoke after a drone strike](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/30/tretya-shturmova-unichtozhila-mi-8-dvumya-dronami-hornet-v-luganskoy-oblasti/tretya-shturmova-unichtozhila-mi-8-dvumya-dronami-hornet-v-luganskoy-oblasti-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Third Assault Brigade destroys Russian Mi-8 in Luhansk region with two Hornet drones
- First drone hit the fuel tanks, the second completed the target's destruction
- The helicopter burned down; Russia uses Mi-8s for troop transport, cargo, and evacuation
- The incident is part of a series of drone strikes on Russian helicopter assets in 2026

Fighters of the Third Assault Brigade have reported the destruction of a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter in the Luhansk region. According to the Third Army Corps, a team of Hornet kamikaze drones delivered two consecutive strikes against the aircraft, causing it to burn down completely. RBC-Ukraine reported this on October 30, 2026, citing the corps' official Telegram channel.

### Raid Chronology: From Detection to Target Engagement

According to the published statement, a team of Hornet kamikaze UAVs from the SKYFOM strike wing platoon of the Unmanned Systems Battalion was conducting a raid on enemy logistics. During the flight, operators spotted a Russian Mi-8 in the air. The drone was directed to intercept the target. The corps noted that the enemy was forced to change direction in the sky, attempting to evade the attack.

### Two-Strike Tactic and Fuel Tank Impact

According to the Ukrainian military, the helicopter's cruising speed exceeded that of the strike drones, complicating the interception. Nevertheless, the first Hornet struck near the fuel tanks, and the second, as the Third Assault Brigade formulated it, "successfully secured control over the target." As a result, the military helicopter—used by the Russian army for troop deployment, cargo transport, wounded evacuation, and fire support—burned to the ground. Published footage captures a plume of smoke over open terrain at the moment the aircraft was destroyed.

### Context: A Series of Strikes on Russian Helicopter Assets

The destruction of the Mi-8 has become further confirmation of the effectiveness of kamikaze drone tactics against enemy aviation. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukrainian soldiers from the "Aliens" anti-aircraft missile battalion shot down a latest-generation modernized Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter using an FPV drone. Furthermore, in July 2026, Unmanned Systems Forces warriors hit another Mi-28 "Night Hunter." Thus, recent months have seen a series of successful operations destroying Armed Forces of the Russian Federation helicopter equipment using various types of unmanned systems.

### Significance of the Mi-8 for the Russian Grouping

The Mi-8 helicopter remains one of the key transport and multi-role aircraft within Russian aviation. Its loss in the combat zone restricts the command's ability to rapidly redeploy units, supply the frontlines, and conduct evacuations. The destruction of the aircraft in the Luhansk region, where active combat interaction is underway, indicates that the airspace over enemy positions remains under the constant control of Ukrainian UAV teams.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Третья штурмовая дронами сожгла российский вертолет Ми-8 на Луганщине (видео)](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/tretya-shturmova-dronami-spalila-rosiyskiy-1793382016.html) - Primary source: Statement by the Third Army Corps on Telegram, reprinted by RBC-Ukraine. Details of the two-Hornet attack, fuel tank impact, and aircraft burning are described. The Russian side has neither confirmed nor denied the loss.

## FAQ

### Which helicopter was destroyed and where?

According to the Third Army Corps, a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed in the Luhansk region. The aircraft burned down after being hit by two Hornet kamikaze drones.

### What means were used to deliver the strike?

A team of Hornet kamikaze UAVs from the SKYFOM strike wing platoon of the Third Assault Brigade's Unmanned Systems Battalion delivered two consecutive strikes: the first hit the fuel tank area, and the second completed the target's destruction.

### What does the Russian army use the Mi-8 for?

The Mi-8 is used for troop deployment, cargo transportation, evacuation, and fire support. The loss of such an aircraft limits the logistical capabilities of the Russian grouping in the combat zone.

### Have there been previous similar cases of Russian aviation being destroyed by UAVs?

Yes. Previously, Ukrainian soldiers shot down a modernized Mi-28 with an FPV drone, and in July 2026, Unmanned Systems Forces hit a Mi-28 "Night Hunter." The Mi-8 incident continues the series of helicopter losses.