Ukraine shows what took out Russia’s flying titan: SBU Alpha unit blows up giant Mi-26 chopper (VIDEO)

Ukraine’s security service released footage showing how an SBU drone destroyed a Russian Mi-26 helicopter. The strike was carried out by the Alpha special forces unit, with the video surfacing months after the reported June attack, according to Militarnyi. The footage also shows an SBU drone hitting an element of the Russian S-400 system.

Strike on the Mi-26 helicopter

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released a video ad to announce its recruitment campaign for civilian specialists to its Alpha unit, writing: 

“You’ve definitely heard of SBU’s Alpha — our daring operations, technological solutions, and results that genuinely change the course of the war.”

The clip includes the never-before-seen footage of a loitering munition strike on a Russian helicopter and the launcher of the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. The agency didn't specify the time and location of the shown attacks.

Militarnyi notes that an SBU attack drone destroyed a Russian Mi-26 helicopter that stood on an airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea. The operation was conducted by the Alpha unit of the SBU. Militarnyi notes that details remain undisclosed and that the helicopter was likely hit in June, though the video appeared only in December. 

In June, Militarnyi reported that SBU forces destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26, and Mi-28 helicopters and a Pantsir-S1 system at the Kirovske airfield. 

Why the Mi-26 loss matters

Militarnyi explains that the Mi-26 is the most powerful mass-produced transport helicopter, capable of lifting up to 20 tons. It supports strategic transport, evacuations, and military operations in difficult environments. Its destruction weakens Russian logistics in occupied areas.