Watch: Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian Mi-28 and Mi-17 Helicopters in Voronezh Region Strike
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Russia-Ukraine War
Video footage has emerged showing Ukrainian forces destroying one Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter and one Mi-17 transport helicopter in Russia’s Voronezh region, approximately 150 kilometers from the front line.
The strike represents another successful long-range operation by Ukraine’s drone and missile forces, highlighting Kyiv’s ability to hit military assets deep inside Russian territory.
The Target: Borisoglebsk Air Base
According to open-source intelligence analysts and reports from Russian sources, the helicopters were struck at the Borisoglebsk air base in the Voronezh region . The air base, located approximately 150 km from the front line, hosts Russian attack and transport helicopter units used in operations against Ukrainian forces.
Satellite images and local reports indicate the strike caused a large fire at the airfield, with multiple explosions heard by residents in the area . The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the destruction of both aircraft represents a significant loss for Russian aviation.
The Voronezh region has been a persistent target of Ukrainian drone strikes in recent weeks. On April 23, Russian authorities reported that air defense forces and electronic warfare systems destroyed 24 drones over the territory of the Voronezh Region . Another attack on April 28-29 saw 10 UAVs destroyed and suppressed over nine districts of the Voronezh region .
Russian Claims of Intercepted Drones
Russian authorities have consistently reported shooting down Ukrainian drones, but the strikes at Borisoglebsk suggest that some drones are getting through.
On April 29, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense intercepted and destroyed 98 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, including Voronezh, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Volgograd, Kursk, Rostov, and Saratov regions, as well as Russian-occupied Crimea .
However, the successful strike on Borisoglebsk air base indicates that not all drones were detected or intercepted, and that Ukrainian forces are able to penetrate Russian air defenses to target high-value military assets.
The Strike in Context: Ukraine’s Deep Strike Campaign
The attack on Borisoglebsk is part of a widening campaign by Ukraine to strike military targets deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian military airfields, ammunition depots, and energy infrastructure used to supply the Russian war effort. These strikes aim to degrade Russian combat power and disrupt logistics supporting the invasion.
Previous deep strikes have included:
- Tuapse oil refinery—struck multiple times in April 2026, destroying 24 storage tanks and causing massive fires
- Oil pumping station near Perm—struck on April 29 by SBU Alpha special forces, causing a massive fire
- Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery—hit in Russia’s Orenburg Oblast, one of Russia’s largest refineries
- Volgograd ammunition depot—struck in September 2025
These strikes demonstrate Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capability, achieved through a combination of domestically produced drones, modified Soviet-era missiles, and Western-supplied systems.
Video Footage and Documentation
Video footage circulating on social media shows the moment of impact, with the helicopters engulfed in flames. The footage has been geolocated to the Borisoglebsk air base, confirming the location of the strike.
Open-source intelligence analysts have also documented the strike using satellite imagery, which shows fire damage at the air base .
Official Responses
There has been no official comment from the Ukrainian government on the specific strike, consistent with its policy of operational silence on strikes inside Russian territory. However, Ukraine’s military leadership has frequently stated that striking Russian military assets—regardless of their location—is a legitimate act of self-defense.
Russian authorities have acknowledged drone activity in the Voronezh region but have not confirmed the loss of the helicopters. The Russian Defense Ministry’s daily reports focus on the number of drones intercepted rather than damage to military assets.
Local Russian officials have reported drone attacks on the Voronezh region, with Governor Alexander Gusev stating that air defense forces destroyed drones over the region . However, civilian infrastructure damage has also been reported in some attacks .
Significance of the Mi-28 and Mi-17
The Mi-28 “Havoc” is a Russian attack helicopter designed for anti-armor and close air support missions. It is one of Russia’s most advanced helicopter platforms, comparable to the American AH-64 Apache. Each Mi-28 is valued at approximately $15-20 million.
The Mi-17 “Hip” is a medium transport helicopter widely used by Russian forces for troop transport, medical evacuation, and logistics support. The loss of a Mi-17 degrades Russia’s ability to move supplies and personnel in the combat zone.
The destruction of both aircraft represents a significant blow to Russian aviation and demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to target high-value assets even when deployed deep behind the front lines.
Summary
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Target | Borisoglebsk air base, Voronezh region, Russia |
| Distance from front line | ~150 km |
| Assets destroyed | One Mi-28 attack helicopter, one Mi-17 transport helicopter |
| Method | Drone strike (video footage confirmed) |
| Russian response | Claimed interceptions of 98 drones overnight across multiple regions |
| Broader context | Part of Ukraine’s deep strike campaign against Russian military assets |
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