Russian teens torch army helicopter in suspected Ukrainian plot
The Russians lost a Mi-8/17 helicopter as a result of activities by teenagers who burned it near Omsk. We present the background of this event and the lost machine's performance.
1:09 PM EDT, September 24, 2024
A post appeared on the Telegram account of the Russian Rosguard regarding the arrest of two teenagers who allegedly burned a Mi-8/17 helicopter near Omsk. The report claims that the teenagers acted at the behest of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in exchange for financial compensation. However, they did not receive the payment and were eventually caught, with all correspondence reportedly deleted.
It is worth noting, however, that much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is part of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war waged by the Russian Federation.
Mi-8/17 - the workhorse of the Russian helicopter fleet
Helicopters from the Mi-8/17 family are among the most popular transport machines in the world. The first basic version was developed in the 1960s, but the design is still being refined today.
Structurally, it is a twin-engine helicopter that can accommodate a three-person crew, up to 24 soldiers (or 37 in newer variants), 12 stretchers with the wounded, 4 tons (8,800 pounds) of internal cargo, or 5 tons (11,000 pounds) of suspended cargo. The helicopter is equipped with a ramp, facilitating rapid deployment or loading/unloading of heavy goods.
It is a valued design on the international market due to its reliability and ease of repair. It is also notable that there are armed versions equipped with six pylons for carrying weapons, such as S-8 unguided rocket launchers or internal stations with machine guns. Ukrainians use the latter to hunt Shaheds.
The Russians entered the war with about 800 helicopters of this type, of which at least 43 units had been destroyed. Some units were even shot down using FPV drones. The fleet comprises various transport versions, but there are also specialized units such as the Mi-8MTPR-1, used for electronic warfare.
It is worth noting that newer transport variants, like the Mi-8AMTSz delivered after 2014, are equipped with advanced self-defence systems, such as the L-370 Vitebsk. These systems include sensors that operate in ultraviolet or infrared to warn of incoming missiles. They are paired with flare launchers, chaff (measures designed to confuse radar-guided missiles), or laser emitters that can blind a missile's guidance system (the rarest versions).
