A Russian Mil Mi-28 attack helicopter crashed during a training flight in Leningrad Oblast on March 18, 2025, killing both crew members on board. The incident occurred in an uninhabited area, preventing any casualties or damage on the ground, according to a statement from Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Russia sends Mi-28NM with Ataka ATGM against Leopard and Abrams
Photo credit: Military Watch Magazine
The ministry reported that the helicopter was operating without ammunition at the time of the crash, which took place far from residential zones.
Emergency teams were dispatched to the site, and an investigative commission from the Russian Aerospace Forces has been tasked with determining the cause, though no official explanation has been released yet. The loss of the aircraft and its crew marks a notable setback for Russia’s military aviation during a routine exercise.
Russian Mil Mi-28 attack helicopter crashed in Leningrad Oblast of Russia on Tuesday.
The two crew-members reportedly perished. pic.twitter.com/JMlQXPHcDk
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) March 18, 2025
The crash unfolded in a field near the village of Shugovitsy, roughly 100 miles northwest of St. Petersburg, as confirmed by regional authorities cited in Russian media outlets like TASS. Video footage circulating on X showed plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage, with a fire breaking out shortly after impact.
The Defense Ministry emphasized that the flight was part of a scheduled training mission, not a combat operation, distinguishing it from losses tied to ongoing conflicts.
A spokesperson stated, “The helicopter was conducting a planned exercise when it went down,” adding that initial recovery efforts focused on securing the site and retrieving the remains of the crew. Details about the pilots’ identities or their experience levels have not been disclosed, in line with standard protocol for such incidents.
The Mil Mi-28, known by its NATO designation “Havoc,” is a cornerstone of Russia’s attack helicopter fleet. Designed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, it entered service in 2009 and is built to engage armored vehicles, low-flying aircraft, and ground troops with precision.
Equipped with a 30mm Shipunov 2A42 autocannon, anti-tank guided missiles like the Ataka, and unguided rocket pods, it competes with platforms like the American AH-64 Apache. With a top speed of 186 miles per hour and a range of about 300 miles, the Mi-28 is engineered for all-weather, day-and-night operations, featuring advanced avionics and a two-seat cockpit for a pilot and weapons operator.
Russia operates approximately 120 of these helicopters, though exact numbers vary depending on maintenance and deployment schedules, per estimates from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Investigators are now combing through the wreckage to pinpoint what went wrong. The Defense Ministry has suggested that a technical malfunction is a leading possibility, but pilot error or environmental factors have not been ruled out.
A source familiar with the Russian Aerospace Forces, speaking to the state-run RIA Novosti agency, indicated that early assessments point to a potential failure in the helicopter’s twin Klimov VK-2500 engines, though this remains unconfirmed.
The Mi-28 has a history of mechanical issues, including a 2015 crash during an air show in Ryazan Oblast that killed one pilot, attributed to a hydraulic system fault. That incident prompted a temporary grounding of the fleet and subsequent upgrades, but sporadic accidents have persisted, raising questions about reliability.
This latest crash adds to a string of aviation losses for Russia in recent years, many tied to its military campaign in Ukraine. Data compiled by Oryx, an open-source intelligence project, shows that at least 16 Mi-28s have been destroyed or damaged beyond repair since February 2022, largely due to combat with Ukrainian forces equipped with portable anti-aircraft systems like the Stinger.
However, the Leningrad Oblast incident stands apart as a peacetime loss, echoing a January 1 mishap this year when another Mi-28 was lost under unclear circumstances during a domestic mission. Analysts note that while wartime attrition has strained Russia’s helicopter numbers, training accidents reflect a different challenge—maintaining operational readiness amid aging equipment and high operational tempo.
The timing of the crash coincides with broader scrutiny of Russia’s military capabilities. Just days ago, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to increase production of military hardware, including helicopters, to sustain operations in Ukraine and bolster domestic defenses.
Speaking at a facility in Ulan-Ude, Shoigu claimed that the output of rotary-wing aircraft had risen by 15% in 2024, though he offered no specifics on models like the Mi-28. The ministry has not commented on whether this incident will affect those plans, but the loss of trained pilots—a resource harder to replace than hardware—could complicate efforts to expand flight operations.
One aviation expert, Dmitry Popov of the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, told Interfax, “Each crash like this puts pressure on training pipelines and maintenance budgets, even if the fleet size holds steady.”
Leningrad Oblast, a region bordering Finland and Estonia, serves as a key hub for Russia’s northwestern military district. The crash site near Shugovitsy falls within a training corridor frequently used by the Aerospace Forces, according to regional reports. Local residents described hearing a loud explosion followed by sirens as emergency crews arrived, though authorities quickly cordoned off the area.
Governor Alexander Drozdenko assured the public via Telegram that there was no threat to civilians, stating, “The situation is under control, and specialists are handling the investigation.” Environmental officials are also assessing potential contamination from fuel or debris, though early indications suggest the impact was minimal due to the remote location.
For comparison, the U.S. military has experienced similar training mishaps with its own attack helicopters. In February 2024, an AH-64 Apache crashed during a night exercise in Mississippi, killing two National Guard pilots. The National Transportation Safety Board later cited a combination of poor visibility and equipment failure.
Such incidents highlight the inherent risks of operating complex rotary-wing aircraft, even outside combat zones. Russia’s Mi-28, like its American counterparts, undergoes rigorous maintenance, but its service record shows a higher accident rate in non-combat settings—about one significant incident per year since 2015, per data from aviation tracking site Scramble Magazine.
The helicopter’s role in Russia’s arsenal extends beyond domestic training. Deployed extensively in Syria since 2015, the Mi-28 has been used against insurgent targets, earning praise for its firepower but criticism for its vulnerability to ground fire. In Ukraine, it has faced stiffer opposition, with documented losses to drones and shoulder-fired missiles.
Ukrainian military blogger Andriy Tsaplienko posted on X after the crash, noting that while this incident was unrelated to the war, it “still weakens Russia’s ability to project air power.” Western officials have refrained from commenting directly, though NATO’s Allied Air Command acknowledged tracking increased Russian air activity near its borders in recent weeks, a pattern unchanged by this event.
Production of the Mi-28 has been a priority for Rostec, Russia’s state-owned defense conglomerate, which oversees Mil’s operations. The latest variant, the Mi-28NM, introduced in 2019, boasts upgraded radar, longer-range missiles, and improved armor. Rostec delivered 12 of these modernized helicopters in 2024, with plans to ramp up to 20 annually by 2027, according to a company statement last month.
The crashed aircraft’s specific model—whether a baseline version or an NM—remains unclear, as the Defense Ministry has not released serial numbers. If it was an older unit, it could underscore the challenges of maintaining a mixed fleet under sanctions that limit access to foreign components.
Public reaction on Russian social media has been muted, with some users on VKontakte expressing condolences to the pilots’ families while others questioned the military’s safety record. Independent outlets like Meduza, operating from exile, pointed to a perceived uptick in training accidents, though hard data is scarce due to restricted reporting inside Russia.
The Kremlin has not addressed the incident directly, leaving it to military officials to manage the narrative. Meanwhile, the investigation’s findings, expected within weeks, will likely shape perceptions of the Mi-28’s reliability and influence future procurement decisions.
As the inquiry unfolds, attention remains on the human cost. The two crew members join a growing list of Russian aviators lost in service, a toll that spans both combat and routine duties.
Their deaths, while not tied to the battlefield, reflect the persistent demands on Russia’s armed forces as they navigate domestic priorities and external pressures. The wreckage near Shugovitsy, now a focal point for forensic teams, serves as a stark reminder of the stakes involved.
Whether this crash prompts changes to training protocols or accelerates production timelines, its ripple effects will linger as Russia balances operational needs with the realities of an aging fleet. For now, the cause remains an open question, with answers resting on the commission’s final report.
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