Ukraine Army Aviation Mi-8 Crash

A Mil Mi-8 of Ukraine's 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Brody" was lost on 30 June 2026 over the Poltava region while flying a mission to intercept Russian long-range attack drones. All four crew members — the commander, pilot-navigator, flight technician and aerial gunner — were killed. Ukrainian helicopter crews have increasingly been tasked with shooting down Shahed-type drones, a hazardous role that has produced several losses. The exact cause of the crash near Starytskivka was not disclosed. A farewell ceremony for the fallen aviators was scheduled for early July.