State Bureau of Investigation investigates the circumstances of the death of the crew of the Kherson air brigade

The State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal investigation into the death of the crew of a Mi-24 helicopter of the 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Kherson" during a combat mission in February 2026. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the crash and the technical condition of the aircraft.

The SBI reported this in response to a request from hromadske.

The pre-trial investigation is being carried out by investigators of the Kyiv Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation. Procedural supervision in the case is provided by the Chernihiv Specialized Prosecutor's Office. The proceedings were opened on February 6 under Part 2 of Article 416 of the Criminal Code (violation of flight rules or preparation for them). The sanction of the article provides for severe punishment - from service restrictions to imprisonment for a term of 5 to 15 years.

The investigation is currently not disclosing interim examination results or other details of the case. As a reminder, on February 9, 2026, it became known that the crew of a Mi-24 helicopter of the 11th separate brigade of the Kherson Army Aviation was killed. The post said that the comrades did not return from a combat mission.

The Kherson Brigade is a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stationed at the Chornobaivka airfield . The brigade received an honorary name in 2019 and played a key role in deterring the aggressor in the southern direction since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The brigade's pilots perform missions on Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-8 transport helicopters.

Earlier, it became known that for almost four years of full-scale war, Russia has lost more than 50 military aircraft and helicopters in the occupied Crimea and over the Black Sea. The number of casualties increased sharply in 2025, but the attack on the Saki airbase in Novofedorivka in August 2022 remains the largest strike so far.

The first year of the war was marked by a devastating attack on the Saki air base near Novofedorivka in August 2022. This airfield was one of the key ones for Russian aviation in Crimea. Multipurpose Su-30SM, Su-24M and Su-24MR frontline bombers, IL-76 transports, and other equipment were based there. It was from this base that the aircraft took off for missile attacks on Ukraine. During the August 9 attack, Russia lost eight Su-24Ms and four Su-30SMs. Another Su-24 was destroyed on August 16 at the Hvardiyske airfield. The cost of one such aircraft can reach about $6 million.

Катерина Глушко