Ukraine’s defense forces allegedly destroyed two Russian military helicopters — Mil Mi-8 and You Are The 52nd Alligator — during operations using strike drones in the Oryol Oblast of the Russian Federation.
The information was transmitted by the Telegram channel “Spy Dossier” (@dosye_shpiona), and then published by the Ukrainian portal Militarnyi. According to reports, the attacks took place on the night of Friday, February 20, 2026.
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Pugachevka airport was to be the target of the attack
Published data shows that the helicopters were parked at the Pugachevka airport, near the village of Pugachivka in the Oryol Oblast. It is a small, unpaved landing field belonging to the Orlov Aero Club of the DOSAAF organization (Voluntary Association for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation and Navy of Russia).
There are indications that the facility was used as an operational airfield for a joint helicopter unit, possibly engaged in intercepting Ukrainian long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
According to published data:
The Mi-8 helicopter with side number 53 belonged to the 319th Independent Helicopter Regiment stationed in Chernihivka in Primorsky Krai, in the Far East of Russia.
The Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter with tail number 18 was assigned to the 16th Army Aviation Brigade based in Zernograd in the Rostov Oblast.
So far, the Russian Ministry of Defense has not officially confirmed the information about the alleged destruction of the machines.
Operational impact
The Mi-8 is widely used for troop transport, medical evacuation and logistics tasks, while the Ka-52 is one of the main attack helicopters of the Russian Air Force, used for fire support and combating armored vehicles.
If the information is confirmed, the simultaneous destruction of these platforms on Russian territory could be another example of the expansion of the scope of Ukraine’s drone operations, which increasingly cover logistical targets and air bases beyond the direct front line.
Source and photos: Militarnyi | Telegram @dosye_shpiona | Wikimedia. The content was developed with the support of AI and verified by the editorial team.
