Ukrainian FPV drone downed Russian Ka-52 helicopter – then Magyar’s Birds came back to finish the crew

Ukrainian drone operators have shot down a Russian Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopter using an FPV drone on the Pokrovsk axis in Donetsk Oblast, according to Ukrainian military sources.

The strike was carried out by pilots from the “Predators of Heights” unit of Ukraine’s 59th Separate Assault Brigade, operating within the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Magyar” Brovdi reported. 

The helicopter was reportedly hit near the village of Nadiivka using a fiber-optic controlled FPV drone, a type of system resistant to electronic warfare interference.

Following the strike, the helicopter made an emergency landing and caught fire, ultimately being destroyed. 

Both Russian pilots killed in follow-up strikes

Additional drones from the 414th Brigade, known as “Magyar’s Birds,” were then deployed to the crash site, where the crew attempted to evacuate. Both Russian pilots were killed in follow-up strikes.

Analysts from In Factum suggest the helicopter was flying relatively close to Ukrainian positions – within several kilometers of the front – likely in support of ongoing Russian ground attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, one of the most contested areas of the eastern front.

Fiber-optic drones are changing the battlefield

The downing highlights the growing role of FPV drones in countering even high-value aerial assets. 

The use of fiber-optic FPV drones reflects a broader adaptation by Ukrainian forces to battlefield conditions, particularly Russia’s extensive use of electronic warfare systems. These drones, physically tethered or using fiber-optic guidance, are far harder to jam than conventional radio-controlled systems.

Militarnyi, citing its sources, reported that the FPV drone used in the strike was produced by the Ukrainian company General Chereshnya.

The incident underscores how rapidly evolving drone tactics are reshaping the battlefield, allowing relatively low-cost systems to neutralize advanced aircraft and disrupt Russian assault operations near the front line.