Russian Air Defense Shoots Down Own KA29 Helicopter Near Crimea

The helicopter was searching for unmanned vehciles, eg drones, which have wreaked havoc in the Krasnodar Krai region,near Crimea and home to a number of refineries which have been damaged by drones in the past few weeks.

'The friendly fire incident suggests that the Ukrainians have gotten inside the Russians' heads as they are under great pressure to stop the attacks, resulting in these sorts of mistakes. JL 

Valentyna Romanenko reports in Ukraine Pravda:

A Ka-29 helicopter was shot down near Anapa, Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation. The Ka-29 was searching for uncrewed vessels, and "one of our Pantsir air defence systems struck the helicopter due to a malfunction of the friend-or-foe identification system." Four people were reported killed in the crash. The Russian Ministry of Defence has not made any official statements regarding the downing of the Russian helicopter.

Several Russian pro-war Telegram channels have reported that a Ka-29 helicopter was shot down near Anapa, Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation.

Source: BBC Russian Service

Quote from the Trinadtsatiy (Thirteenth), one of the Telegram channels: "Our own air defence shot down our own helicopter in Anapa. The Ka-29 was searching for uncrewed vessels, and one of our Pantsir air defence systems struck the helicopter (according to the early version, due to a malfunction of the friend-or-foe identification system)."

Details: Other pro-war Russian sources also reported the downing of the helicopter. They stated that four people had been killed in the crash.

"Eternal flight to you, brothers," the Voyevoda Veshchayet Telegram channel said. It posted a photo of a Ka-29.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has not made any official statements regarding the downing of the Russian helicopter.