The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage depicting Geran kamikaze drones destroying two Ukrainian military helicopters deep within Ukrainian-controlled territory.
According to the ministry, the strikes occurred on Saturday and may have involved unmanned aircraft guided via satellite link. Video footage shows two separate hits on the same location, with an operator appearing to assist the drones’ targeting systems. The ministry identified the destroyed aircraft as a Mil Mi-24 and a Mil Mi-8 operated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The footage had previously circulated on Russian military Telegram channels.
Sergey “the Flash” Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian electronic warfare specialist recently appointed as an advisor to Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, stated no additional Russian drones were nearby during the attack, suggesting it was the first Geran deployment using a satellite internet link.
“Those [drones] were piloted manually at a low altitude to stay under the radar,” Beskrestnov said.
The Russian military did not comment on the Gerans’ targeting but stated the strikes hit an area 46 kilometers west of Kanatovo airfield in Kirovograd Region, deep inside Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Earlier this month, Russia’s Defense Ministry launched a major recruitment drive for its new Unmanned Forces unit, which is being rapidly expanded based on experience from the Ukraine conflict.