Ukrainian forces destroy Russian Ka-52 helicopter with crew using FPV drones
Photo: Russian Ka-52 helicopter (Getty Images)
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces shot down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter along with its crew, who were attempting to evacuate, using an FPV drone, according to Robert Brovdi, call sign Magyar, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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He says that the Russian helicopter was hit by a fiber-optic FPV drone operated by pilots from the Baltyka crew of the 1st Battalion Khyzhaky vysot of the 59th USF Brigade in the Nadiivka area, Donetsk region.
Magyar adds that following the emergency landing, the helicopter crew attempted to escape.
However, drones from the 1st Battalion of the 414th Brigade Magyar's Birds flew to the Russians and eliminated them.
An enemy Ka-52 and its crew, who attempted to evacuate, were destroyed by USF birds in Donetsk region.
— 414 Magyar's Birds (@414magyarbirds) March 20, 2026
The enemy helicopter was hunted down using a fiber-optic FPV drone by the “Baltyka” crew of the 1st battalion “Predators of the Heights,” 59 Brigade of the @usf_army, in the… pic.twitter.com/uBjerhb5UQ
The cost of a single Russian Ka-52 helicopter is at least $16 million.
Russian equipment destruction
Recently, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters. In addition, Russian anti-aircraft missile systems were recently destroyed near Mariupol and Donetsk.
Magyar also reported that Ukrainian defenders destroyed a Russian Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system at a firing position in the temporarily occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region.
Furthermore, operators of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Asgard Battalion of the 412th Nemesis Brigade destroyed two Russian Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems in a single night.
Earlier, these same units had eliminated six more air defense systems and radar stations over a 48-hour period, which were key elements of the enemy’s multi-layered air defense system.
