A Russian fighter jet allegedly shot down a military helicopter in the Voronezh Region after misidentifying it as a drone, resulting in three deaths.
Key facts
- •The crash occurred in the Anninsky District of Russia's Voronezh Region on October 1.
- •All three crew members, including the pilot, navigator, and gunner, were killed in the incident.
- •Reports indicate the Su-35 crew misidentified the Mi-8 as an unmanned aerial vehicle during a drone attack.
- •Regional governor Alexander Gusev reported that 62 drones were destroyed in the Voronezh Region on the evening of the incident.
- •A similar friendly-fire incident involving a Russian Mi-8 occurred in the Rostov Region on March 4.
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet reportedly shot down a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter in a friendly-fire incident in the Voronezh Region on October 1. Multiple Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels reported that the fighter jet crew mistook the helicopter for a drone during a large-scale aerial engagement. All three crew members on board—the pilot, navigator, and gunner—were killed in the crash.
By the numbers
Circumstances of the Incident
The incident occurred in the Anninsky District, approximately 80 kilometers from the city of Voronezh, while Russian forces were responding to a drone alert. According to reports from channels such as Dossier Shpiona and Oko Hora, the Mi-8 had begun lifting off from a takeoff pad when it was targeted by the Su-35. Regional governor Alexander Gusev confirmed that 62 drones were destroyed across the region on the evening of October 1, though Russian authorities have not publicly confirmed the friendly-fire downing.
Reporting and Verification
News of the crash circulated widely across various Telegram channels, including the pro-war channel Fighterbomber, which is linked to the Russian Aerospace Forces. While Ukrainian outlets such as UNIAN and In Factum also reported the loss, the details remain unverified by independent sources. This event follows a similar incident from March 4, when a Russian Mi-8 was reportedly shot down by Russian air defenses in the Rostov Region, resulting in three fatalities.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Insider (Russia), Kyiv Independent.
