On July 12, a dramatic event unfolded in Eastern Europe’s airspace. A Belarusian Mi-24 military helicopter shot down a Russian drone as it approached the Ukrainian border.
Belarusian Mi-24 Intercepts Russian Drone Over Border Region
A source from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) confirmed the incident, and Ukrinform published the report on July 14.
Defense sources identified the Russian drone as a “Herbera”-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and stated that it was flying toward Ukrainian territory when Belarusian forces intercepted it. The helicopter, part of the Belarusian Air Defense Forces, was on a routine mission monitoring Belarusian airspace when it detected the unidentified flying object. Without delay, it responded and destroyed the drone before it could reach its target.
At the time of this incident, there were reportedly at least three Russian drones present in Belarusian airspace. This heightened the tension in the area, especially because of the proximity to Ukraine’s border. The falling debris from the destroyed drone landed in the Homieĺ (also spelled Gomel) region of Belarus, which is close to the Ukrainian frontier.
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Mysterious Russian Drone Raises Questions
The Herbera-type drone involved in this incident is not widely known. It is not officially listed in Russian military databases or public defense reports. However, sources from Ukrainian defense intelligence believe that this drone is part of Russia’s new and growing fleet of unmanned aerial systems.
Experts suspect that Russian engineers built the Herbera drone for both strike and reconnaissance missions. This means the drone may gather intelligence and possibly carry an explosive payload. Although officials have not disclosed the exact details of its design and technology, analysts assume it has a modular structure. This design allows operators to equip the drone with different tools depending on the mission—whether for surveillance or attack.
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What makes the Herbera drone particularly interesting is that it might be part of Russia’s effort to use less-documented or even secret aerial systems in real-world combat zones. Its use in Belarusian airspace adds another layer of complexity to the region’s already fragile security situation.
So far, Belarusian authorities have not made any public statement about the interception or the presence of Russian drones over their territory. This silence continues even as evidence suggests increased drone activity, particularly around the border areas.
Mi-24 Action Follows Earlier Drone Incursion via Belarus
The shootdown on July 12 was not an isolated event. Just hours before the interception, Russian forces reportedly launched a drone attack on northern Ukraine. At least three Shahed-type drones—commonly used by Russian forces—flew through Belarusian airspace and entered Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region.
These drones crossed into Ukrainian territory after spending several minutes in Belarusian skies. This raises concerns about how Russian drones are navigating or possibly exploiting Belarusian airspace during active military operations. Again, Belarus has not officially commented on these incursions.
The presence of both the mysterious Herbera drone and the confirmed Shahed-type UAVs near Ukraine’s northern border indicates a pattern of drone activity that is hard to ignore. For Ukraine, it reflects the challenges of defending its airspace from unexpected directions. For Belarus, it raises questions about the role its territory is playing in the broader conflict.
The use of a Mi-24 helicopter to shoot down the drone marks a rare moment where Belarusian forces actively engaged with Russian military equipment. The Mi-24, a Soviet-era attack helicopter, is still in use by several countries and is known for its firepower and versatility. In this case, it served as a tool of enforcement, showing that Belarus is monitoring its airspace—at least to some extent.
As of now, no additional information has been released by either the Belarusian or Russian governments. The incident remains unconfirmed by official Belarusian sources, even though Ukrainian defense circles are treating the event as a serious breach of airspace norms.