Poland recorded 19 Russian drones that violated its airspace, shooting down three of them. The country activated Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty for consultations with allies.
Satellite images confirmed the damage to a Russian border base in the Armiansk area of Crimea, where a barracks was completely destroyed. The strike could have been carried out by the new long-range "Flamingo" missiles, which Ukraine has begun mass-producing.
On August 30, Ukrainian drones destroyed two Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters at the airfield in Simferopol. Russian sources recorded UAV movement around 06:30 AM.
Ukrainian army aviation successfully uses Soviet equipment, but the industry risks losing the ability to maintain it. Without state support, production potential and maintenance of military equipment are under threat.
The Ukrainian aviation industry retains potential and personnel despite the war, but requires state support. The inclusion of aircraft manufacturing enterprises in Defence City is key for further development.
The full-scale war has placed Ukrainian businesses under extraordinary pressure. For the aviation sector, this has meant more than the loss of access to infrastructure — it has brought a complete shutdown of the domestic market, forced relocation, adaptation to new realities, and the challenge of maintaining world-class standards on the international stage.
Ukrainian aviation today is fighting not only in the air but also for its existence as an industry.
A Mi-8 helicopter belonging to "Vzlet" airline disappeared during a flight from Okhotsk to Magadan. There were three crew members and two technicians on board. An An-26 aircraft and another Mi-8 helicopter have been deployed for the search.
On July 12, a Mi-24 helicopter of the Belarusian Air Defense destroyed a Russian attack UAV "Gerbera" that was heading to Ukraine. The drone's debris fell on the territory of the Gomel region.
Military expert Oleh Zhdanov considers the Mi-8 indispensable for Ukrainian aviation, despite its outdated design.
Mi helicopters form the basis of Ukraine's army aviation, performing critical combat, logistics and rescue missions in wartime, including the evacuation of the wounded from Mariupol. The effectiveness of their use, despite their age and the complexity of modernization, depends on well-thought-out logistics, repair and crew training.
A number of EU countries still use Soviet helicopters and airplanes, which are important for Ukraine in the war. They are needed for the evacuation of the wounded and strikes against the enemy, but their support is becoming more difficult.
On the night of June 6, Ukrainian drones attacked an airport in Bryansk, resulting in the burning of a Mi-8 helicopter and damage to a Mi-35. Additionally, the administrative building and the rescue service building were damaged.
