Russian Su-35 fighter jet shoots down own Mi-8 helicopter in Voronezh Oblast

A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter was reportedly shot down in a friendly-fire incident over Voronezh Oblast on October 1, killing all three crew members, according to several Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels. The helicopter crashed in the Anninsky district, around 80 kilometers from the regional capital, while responding to a supposed Ukrainian drone attack.

Ukrainian Telegram channels Exilenova Plus and Dossier of a Spy claim the Su-35 fighter jet mistook the Mi-8 for a Ukrainian drone and opened fire. These reports have not been independently verified, and Russian authorities have not confirmed the cause of the helicopter's loss. The Mi-8 is a versatile and widely used Soviet-designed helicopter, while the Su-35 is a multirole fighter aircraft.

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