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Ukrainian Drone Strike Hits Russian Airbase in Crimea, Destroys Two Mi-8 Helicopters and Navy Tugboat, Video
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine’s military intelligence unit “Prymary ” has carried out another successful strike in occupied Crimea, hitting a Russian airbase near Simferopol and destroying two Mi-8 helicopters, as well as disabling a naval tugboat in Sevastopol Bay, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on September 1.
According to the footage, Ukrainian drones penetrated Russian defenses at the Hvardiyiske airbase, where one drone hit the tail section of a Mi-8 transport helicopter while another struck near a second helicopter on the tarmac.
The Ukrainian military intelligence claims to have struck two Mi-8 helicopters at an airport near Simferopol in occupied Crimea. At the same time, HUR reported that a military tugboat in Sevastopol Bay was also targeted in the attack pic.twitter.com/Z3XAHX1Y2p
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) September 1, 2025
Another Ukrainian drone targeted and hit a Russian Project BUK-2190 tugboat, which reconnaissance identified as belonging to Russia’s elite PDSS (Underwater Sabotage Forces and Means) unit.
These units consist of highly trained combat divers equipped with specialized gear, and the loss of their support vessel is expected to significantly degrade their operational capabilities.
The attack took place on the morning of August 30, sparking a large fire at the base. At the time, Russian monitoring channels also reported incoming drones. Satellite imagery later confirmed that two helicopters had been destroyed.
Alongside the destroyed aircraft, at least three additional Mi-8s, three Mi-24s, as well as An-26 and Tu-134UBL aircraft were stationed at the airfield during the attack.
According to HUR, the cost of the two destroyed Mi-8s is estimated between $20 million and $30 million, marking another costly blow to Russia’s presence in occupied Crimea.
The Mi-8 helicopter remains one of the most widely used platforms in the Russian Armed Forces, serving in transport, assault, and air defense roles, as well as for countering Ukrainian surface drones.
Earlier, a Ukrainian strike on the Baltimore airbase in Russia’s Voronezh region knocked out an S-300 air defense division and possibly destroyed two Su-24 bombers.
