Satellite images have confirmed the destruction of Russian helicopters at an airbase in occupied Crimea following a Ukrainian drone strike.
The attack targeted the airport near Simferopol on August 30, Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi reported.
According to the report, satellite photos published by the AviaVector community showed two helicopters destroyed on the airfield. The images, comparing the site before and after the strike, confirm that a Mi-8 transport helicopter and a Mi-24 attack helicopter were eliminated during the attack.
The incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m., when Russian monitoring channels began reporting drone activity approaching the Simferopol area. Shortly after, explosions were recorded at the airport, followed by thick black smoke rising from the scene.
Initial reports claimed that the strike had hit aviation fuel storage facilities. However, the satellite photos later demonstrated that helicopters had been destroyed, not fuel tanks.
Imagery from August 22 had previously revealed that Russian forces concentrated several aircraft at the location, including five Mi-8 helicopters, one An-26 transport, three Mi-24s, and one Tu-134UBL aircraft. The placement of these aircraft in a relatively confined area, the report noted, created the potential for heavier losses had the drone strike been larger in scale.
The Mi-8 helicopter, a long-serving platform in Russian service, is widely used for transport, combat missions, and support roles. It remains a core asset for Russia’s military, including operations against Ukrainian forces and maritime drone defenses in the Black Sea. The exact variant of the destroyed Mi-8 is not yet known.
The Mi-24, Russia’s well-known attack helicopter, has also been used extensively in combat operations across Ukraine. Its loss further reduces Russia’s rotary-wing strike capacity in occupied Crimea, a region where Moscow has concentrated both air and naval power to support its ongoing war effort.
Satellite confirmation of the damage provides clear evidence of Ukraine’s expanding campaign against Russian infrastructure in Crimea. The attack adds to a series of strikes in recent months aimed at air defense systems, logistics hubs, and fuel depots across the peninsula.
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