Putin's Helicopter Targeted in Drone Strike, Commander Says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published May 26, 2025 at 3:31 AM EDT


Vladimir Putin's helicopter was targeted by Ukrainian drones as he visited the Kursk region in a surprise visit last week, a Russian military official has claimed. The alleged attack took place as the Russian president visited the border region for the first time since Moscow claimed it had repelled Ukrainian forces from the area last month.

Putin's helicopter was "at the epicenter" of a "large-scale" Ukrainian drone attack on May 20, Yury Dashkin, commander of a Russian air defense division, said, according to Kremlin newswire Tass. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email.

Why It Matters

This is the first known instance in which the Russian president is reported to have flown through an active drone attack.

What To Know

Russia's defense ministry was forced to shoot down dozens of drones during the incident, according to Dashkin, who said in an interview aired by the state-run Rossiya-24 TV channel that the intensity of the assault escalated significantly as the presidential aircraft flew over Kursk. He said Russian air defense systems engaged the drones to ensure the safety of the presidential helicopter. Dashkin described the attack as "unprecedented" but said all the Ukrainian drones had been destroyed.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-helicopter-targeted-attack-drones-2076957

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Better luck next time, Ukraine.

[meow2u3]

2. Too bad they missed

You'll get them the next time, Ukraine.

[cadoman]

4. it's fulfilling to think this, but moral decay/atrocity spiral are the consequences

The public is not aware that in all conflicts certain standards are maintained. However, the longer a conflict goes, the more those standards are stretched and eventually broken.

So here we had Ukraine take a shot at the king, but they missed. The consequence was that Pootin felt the gloves had come off and launched the biggest missile strike on Kiev yet.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/24/russia-drone-attack-kyiv-ukraine-war

So yeah, it's easy to cheer this kind of activity on when you are not dealing with missiles landing on your apartment...

The greatest mistake of the Biden administration was in not requesting a full declaration of war or immediately negotiating a peaceful compromise on the contested lands. The middle path leads to nowhere good. Ukraine has long been on the trajectory of slowly losing and nothing is being done to change course.

[blue-wave]

6. "The consequence was that Pootin felt the gloves had come off" Bullshit!!!

The gloves came off when Putin invaded Ukraine back in 2014 and have been off ever since. Is the Bucha massacre and the Mariupol theater and the Palm Sunday bombing not enough genocidal proof? Ukraine is just now gaining enough home-grown advanced technological strength to send the war to Russia in ways which will be very painful for Putin. May Ukraine prevail in ways of which we are not yet aware.

Slava Ukraini!! Heroyam Slava!!

[cadoman]

15. Heroyam Slava

May Ukraine never fall.

My point, nevertheless, stands. The standard of war escalated. There are still greater levels that it hasn't escalated to, thankfully.

[flying_wahini]

3. Then follow his ass back to Moscow.....

Just wishing.

[Pinback]

5. Putin obviously has a sort of moral force field protecting him

So he should feel free to visit as many combat zones as possible, and always in a helicopter.

[NEOBuckeye]

7. His days are numbered

Either the grim reaper catches up to him, or Ukraine takes him out. I'd bet on it happening within the next 12 months. Putin will soon be just a bad memory.

[niyad]

8. Hmmm, why am I inclined to call BS on this story??? ruzzian propaganda???

[reACTIONary]

14. At the very least, exaggerated....

... I'm surprised they didn't provide a picture of P hanging out of the copter by one hand, sans shirt, clutching a knife in his teeth and wielding a machine gun in his other hand.

[niyad]

16. Exactly!!!

[DENVERPOPS]

9. Given the situation

I am surprised that Ukraine didn't launch hundreds and hundreds of drones at Putin's Chopper. Of course that would have opened the Russian Government to who knows what retaliation.......

[LiberalArkie]

10. I just saw the subject line and immediately thought: Russian drone or Ukrainian Drone?

[niyad]

17. A most excellent point!

[Xipe Totec]

11. Maybe he needs a ride? nt

[purr-rat beauty]

12. Keep it up!

He's the most deserving of a visit from a drone

[womanofthehills]

13. True or not - there will be revenge bombing of Ukraine

Russia has already responded with retaliation of a massive aerial attack and there will probably be more.

[Martin68]

18. I'd love to see Pootie afraid to fly in his own helicopter.