Ukraine says it destroyed 2 Russian Mi-8 helicopters, hit tugboat in occupied Crimea, shares footage
Editor's note: The article was updated with additional details.
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and a struck tugboat in occupied Crimea, the agency reported on Sept. 1.
Drones struck the Hvardiiske military air base, some 13 kilometers (around 8 miles) from Simferopol, destroying helicopters worth an estimated $20–30 million, according to HUR.
A military tugboat, believed to be a BUK-2190, was also attacked in Sevastopol Bay, where Ukrainian intelligence guided a warhead directly onto the vessel.
The Mi-8 is a Soviet-designed multi-role transport helicopter widely used by Russia for troop movement, cargo delivery, and medical evacuation, as well as armed combat missions.
The BUK-2190 tugboat supports naval operations in ports and bays. The targeted vessel was used by a Russian special naval forces unit responsible for underwater sabotage operations.
"The damage to the tugboat significantly limits the combat capabilities of the elite Russian unit," the agency said, adding that the vessel met an "unfortunate end."
Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, has become a frequent target of Ukrainian strikes against military infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces reported on Sept. 1 that they destroyed the radar of a Russian S-300 air defense system at the Saky airfield in western Crimea.
