Russian military correspondents report the loss of a Mi-28 helicopter in the Kerch Strait

27 October, 2024 Mi-28NM attack helicopter. Photo credits: Rostec A Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter crashes into the sea near the Kerch Strait.

Russian propagandist Fighterbomber (Ilya Tumanov) announced this. According to Russian propagandists, the Mi-28 helicopter crashed into the water after the pilot lost control during a scheduled flight. It is reported that two pilots were killed, one was found dead, and the search for the other is ongoing, he is reported missing.

Mi-28NM attack helicopter.

Photo credits: Rostec

It should be noted that Mi-28 and Ka-52 helicopters are conducting patrol flights near the Kerch Strait as part of the protection of the Kerch Bridge, which is a target for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, as the Russians use it to transport military equipment and personnel to the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea. In addition to directly defending the bridge, the helicopters are also involved in air defense missions, namely intercepting drones that are trying to destroy it with onboard guns. As a result of such actions, the Russians have already lost several helicopters.

Militarnyi previously reported that at the end of July 2024, a Mi-28 attack helicopter crashed in the Kaluga region of Russia.

A Russian Mi-28N pursues and shoots at a Ukrainian UAV. Crimea, August 2023. Frame from the video of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

The helicopter was flying to intercept the drone, but during the flight, it began to lose speed and altitude.

One of the versions was an engine fire. The entire helicopter crew was killed when it crashed to the ground. In addition, in early July 2024, a Mi-28 helicopter crashed due to a collision with a drone that the Russian crew was hunting for.

The crash occurred on the night of July 5, when the helicopter was allegedly intercepting an attack drone over the Rostov region.

Due to the high temperature of the exhaust gasses, the grass around the helicopter began to burn.

The crew abandoned the vehicle and was evacuated.