Two Russian teenagers, aged 13 and 14, set fire to a Mi-8 military helicopter at an airport in Noyabrsk, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, on the night of September 11, according to reports from the Russian Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to the country’s security services.
The teenagers, identified as Timur and Sasha, reportedly sneaked into the airport’s secured area by passing through a hole in the fence. After reaching the helipad where the helicopter was stationed, they poured flammable liquid over the aircraft and attempted to ignite it using cigarettes. When the first attempt to start a fire failed, one of the boys lit a second cigarette and placed it into the liquid, resulting in a sudden explosion that caused severe damage to the helicopter.
The Mi-8 helicopter, valued at up to $15 million, was reportedly extremely damaged in the blaze. Photos published by the Baza Telegram channel showed the charred remains of the aircraft, which has been confirmed by multiple reports.
Two Russian middle school students set fire to the Russian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter in Omsk.
Unknown people on the Internet promised them a $50K reward. pic.twitter.com/zRMY1KyOUl
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 23, 2024
According to the Telegram channel Baza, the teenagers claimed they received instructions to carry out the arson via the messaging app, with a promise of 5 million rubles (about $55,000) as payment for their actions. Additionally, they admitted to having set fire to a cellphone tower a few days earlier, for which they were paid 30,000 rubles (about $330).
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