Ukraine special forces stun Russia after carrying out attack that 'changes rules of war'

A Russian Mi-8 helicopter is shot down over Ukraine (Image: X social media)

Ukrainian special forces have pulled off a major operation that has the potential to "rewrite the rules of war". Volodymyr Zelensky's army has been at the forefront of pioneering new ways to wage combat, as it continues to defend itself from Russian aggression.

In particular, Ukraine has developed new technologies that have helped to compensate for the army's lack of manpower and weapons in relation to Putin's forces. Often outnumbered and outgunned, Kyiv has had to rely on the ingenuity of its commanders and engineers to stem the Russian tide. Ukraine has led the way with drones, developing a formidable array of models that have inflicted huge casualties and damage on Putin's army.

The helicopter was targeted with a 'deep strike' drone (Image: Ukraine Army)

To date, perhaps one of Ukraine's boldest and most technologically advanced operations was its drone attack on Russia's bomber fleet in June.

Operation Spiderweb - over a year in the planning - targeted airbases deep inside Russia using a fleet of drones hidden in trucks.

Now Kyiv's special forces appear to have achieved a new first in military operations, that has left Putin's army reeling.

A crack unit destroyed an £11 million Mi-8 helicopter in Russia's Rostov region using a deep strike drone for the first time ever. The Special Operations Forces announced their feat in a post to their Telegram channel on Saturday.

"Changing the rules of the game: now we are the hunters!" they wrote.

"For the first time, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in the air by a Special Operations Forces 'deep strike' drone!

"Every mission requires creativity, from the technical characteristics of the equipment to the planning and training of the pilots.

"This mission left the enemy with many questions, the answers to which are known only to the Mi-8 crew members, but they will not tell."

Ukraine's air defences also pulled off major success last week, as the country was pounded by Russian missiles.

During an attack on Wednesday, November 18, a mobile fire group shot down a Kalibr cruise missile using a man-portable air defence system.

The engagement, carried out with the FN-6 MANPADS, stopped the missile as it flew toward a city in the west of Ukraine.