A viral social media post by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) and the Balista Unit has led to claims that a Russian Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter was destroyed by a Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drone in Russia’s Kursk region.
The video, shared on the official Instagram page of the SSO, allegedly shows an FPV drone targeting a low-flying Ka-52 helicopter during what was described as a Russian “combat patrol” over borderland fields. The SSO caption framed the strike as a successful operation by the Balista tactical group using the “Bombus” drone system.
A Ukrainian FPV drone with a remote-controlled explosive device targets a Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter in the Kursk region. While it’s unclear if the Ka-52 was actually hit from this footage, the helicopter was claimed to be shot down, allegedly killing one crew member. pic.twitter.com/OrErQm2veA
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 16, 2025
“Operators of the Balista unit special operations forces hunt enemy army aviation with the help of FPV drones,” the post read. “Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ tried to organize ‘Combat Patrol’ over Ukrainian fields. But didn’t take into account the main one – in the sky a group of tactical strike UAVs ‘Bombus’…”
The entire video clip runs approximately 1 minute and 18 seconds, but only about 12 seconds appear to be actual drone footage. The remainder of the video includes stylized edits featuring what appears to be AI-generated video, graphic overlays, and special effects. Analysts and open-source observers have noted that the final visible frame of the genuine footage does not clearly show an impact or explosion. The Ka-52, identified as “47 Yellow,” appears in frame but does not show visible damage at the point of feed cutoff.
Despite the lack of conclusive visual confirmation, the SSO and affiliated reports claim the helicopter was brought down and that one crew member was killed in the incident.
This is not the first time Ukrainian forces have claimed to down a Russian helicopter using FPV drone technology. In August 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released footage allegedly showing an FPV drone striking a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter, also in the Kursk region.
🇺🇦 #Ukraine: The Ukrainian military has released footage of an FPV drone striking a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter in midair. The strike took place over Russia’s Kursk region, possibly marking the first time an FPV drone has downed a helicopter in flight. pic.twitter.com/eoiSpiKCAh
— POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) August 7, 2024
In contrast to the current video, the final visible frame in the August footage appeared more clearly to show the drone in direct proximity to the helicopter’s tail rotor. That earlier incident was described by some observers as a possible first in modern warfare where a loitering FPV drone successfully engaged an enemy helicopter mid-air.
The Ka-52 “Alligator” is one of Russia’s most advanced attack helicopters, derived from the earlier Ka-50 “Black Shark” platform. It features a distinctive coaxial rotor system, enhancing maneuverability and performance in tight airspace. The twin-seat, all-weather aircraft is designed for combat reconnaissance, target acquisition, and command coordination roles.
As of Friday, there has been no independent verification of the Ka-52’s destruction. The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued no statement on the incident, and no publicly available imagery has confirmed the crash site or wreckage.
