There is no certified organization in Ukraine that has the right to determine the originality of parts for Mi-8MT helicopters, which led to the seizure of weapons and the return of two helicopters to military units without combat capability. This creates a technical, legal, and security vacuum, jeopardizing the country's defense capabilities.
Weapon systems, which were removed during overhaul from two Mi-8MT combat helicopters, are being stored improperly. The investigation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine is blocking the restoration of military equipment and effectively failing to ensure the safety of the seized property.
The National Bank of Ukraine has issued a new commemorative coin "Ukrainian Cotton. Magura Unmanned Surface Vehicle" with a face value of 5 hryvnias. The coin is dedicated to the engineering prowess of Ukrainian weapons developers and the combat valor of soldiers who have turned naval drones into one of the most effective types of weapons.
Two modernized Mi-8MT helicopters returned to the military without weapons after overhaul. The situation escalated into a criminal proceeding, blocking the return of the equipment to combat readiness.
Special Operations Forces reported that their "deep strike" drone shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter in mid-air for the first time. This event changes the rules of the game, as the SSO are now hunting the enemy.
The Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Oleksandr Bilchuk from the post of Head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine. Daniil Menshikov has been appointed as acting head.
The official investigation into the temporarily suspended head of the State Aviation Service, Oleksandr Bilchuk, is taking significantly longer than standard. The Cabinet of Ministers is thoroughly examining the facts of the transfer of repair documentation for Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters to a company associated with the Russian military-industrial complex, which may indicate serious offenses.
The Russian-linked company AAL Group Ltd, registered in an offshore jurisdiction, thanks to Oleksandr Bilchuk, obtained the right to accompany the repair documentation of Ukrainian Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters in 2025. This is despite the fact that the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) had already deemed AAL Group Ltd unsuitable for cooperation in 2024.
The competitive struggle between Ukrainian airlines escalated into real "wars" involving law enforcement, leading to arrests of equipment, searches, and blocking of defense contract execution. This situation threatens to disrupt state orders and destroy part of the production capacities of the Ukrainian aviation business, which continues to operate even during the war.
Experts demand more thorough checks of companies working with sensitive information for ties to the Russian Federation.
The State Aviation Service of Ukraine is creating a working group to resolve the situation with the repair documentation of Mi-8MT (MTV) helicopters. This decision was made after the transfer of support to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd, which has ties to the Russian military-industrial complex.
The Cabinet of Ministers has once again extended the terms of the official investigation into the temporarily suspended head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Bilchuk.
On Friday, October 3, an An-2 aircraft crashed in the Yermakovsky district of Russia's Krasnoyarsk Krai. One person was killed, and rescue services are working at the scene.
On September 21, 2025, the special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine "Ghosts" destroyed two Russian Be-12 "Chaika" anti-submarine amphibious aircraft in occupied Crimea. This is the first time a Be-12 has been hit in history, and a Mi-8 helicopter was also hit.
The special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine "Ghosts" destroyed an expensive Russian radar, as well as three helicopters on the peninsula.
Law enforcement agencies should open criminal proceedings regarding Oleksandr Bilchuk's transfer of repair documentation for Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd, which is connected with the Russian military-industrial complex. This creates a threat of sensitive information leakage and may have signs of high treason.
President Zelenskyy signed laws protecting the defense industry, which restrict access to information about enterprises. At the same time, the State Aviation Service transferred documentation for Mi-8 helicopters to a company with Russian ties, which jeopardizes national security.
Former Deputy Head of the State Bureau of Investigation, Oleksandr Babikov, commented on the transfer of repair documentation for Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd, which is connected to the Russian Federation, by the head of the State Aviation Service, Oleksandr Bilchuk. The government suspended Bilchuk and ordered an official investigation, and law enforcement agencies must determine whether a crime was committed.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended until October 30 the official investigation into the decision of the temporarily suspended head of the State Aviation Service, Oleksandr Bilchuk. This concerns the transfer of maintenance documentation support for Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd, which is connected to the Russian Federation.
The disciplinary commission is investigating the actions of Oleksandr Bilchuk, the temporarily suspended head of the State Aviation Service, due to the transfer of documentation regarding Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters to a company associated with the Russian Federation. If signs of a crime are found, he faces criminal proceedings.
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.
Activists of the "Yellow Ribbon" movement spread Ukrainian symbols in Simferopol, Sevastopol, and Yalta. This demonstrates the expectation of the return of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and reminds that Crimea is Ukraine.
People's Deputy Fedir Venislavskyi stated that many employees of AAL Group Ltd, which supports repair documentation for Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters, have Russian passports, and the ultimate beneficiary is a Russian holding. This decision by the State Aviation Service remains valid, despite the risk of sensitive data leaking to the enemy.
The Ukrainian company "XENA" has deployed its An-32P aircraft to extinguish fires in Montenegro. This aircraft can drop up to 8,000 liters of water in a single pass, operating at an altitude of 40 meters or more.
The US Armed Forces Transportation Command recognized AAL Group Ltd as unsuitable for cooperation due to possible ties with the Russian military-industrial complex. However, the State Aviation Service of Ukraine entrusted this company with supporting repair documentation for Mi-8 helicopters.
"Ukroboronprom" calls for a review of the decision by former head of the State Aviation Service, Oleksandr Bilchuk, to transfer the right to support repair documentation for Mi-8MT(MTV) helicopters to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd. This decision creates risks of sensitive information leakage and threatens the operation of Ukrainian defense enterprises, as the company may be linked to the Russian defense industry.
Drones of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine hit two Russian Mi-8 helicopters at the Gvardiyske airbase, their cost is 20-30 million dollars. A tugboat in Sevastopol Bay was also attacked.
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.
Ksenia Semenova, President of the Kyiv Aviation Institute, states that the inaction of the State Aviation Service undermines the future of aviation. The decision to transfer the documentation support for Mi-8 helicopters to a company with Russian ties caused a stir.
