Direct proof of use
The Mi-28 is directly documented in the 2011 Syrian Civil War through Russian Aerospace Forces operations in 2016. TASS reported on April 4, 2016 that Russian Ministry of Defense footage showed at least one Mi-28N fighting Islamic State targets near Palmyra in Homs province and using 9M120 and 9M120F Ataka guided missiles.
The Palmyra footage also tied the helicopter to specific strike effects. TASS said the Mi-28N destroyed an infantry fighting vehicle and a small building with Islamic State fighters inside, while RBC separately reported that Russia's Defense Ministry published Mi-28N anti-tank guided missile strike videos near Palmyra against militant armored vehicles and a building.
Sources: TASS Mi-28N Syria Combat Debut, RBC Mi-28N Palmyra Videos
Timeline
The clearest public sequence begins in late March and early April 2016, after Syrian government forces recaptured Palmyra with Russian air support. Russia Beyond reported on April 1 that Russia's Defense Ministry had released videos of Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopters attacking Islamic State targets during the Palmyra campaign, including guided missile strikes against armored vehicles and militants in a house.
On April 4, TASS identified the missiles in the Mi-28N footage as 9M120 and 9M120F Ataka weapons. On April 8, Al Jazeera reported that Mi-28 and Ka-52 gunships had joined Russia's Syria fight and were suited to open-terrain fighting against Islamic State forces around Palmyra. TASS later reported that Russia had deployed Mi-28N and Ka-52 attack helicopters to Hmeymim airbase for combat testing.
Institutional studies place the helicopter in the wider 2016-2017 rotary-wing campaign. CNA described Mi-35M, Mi-28N, and Ka-52 helicopters as involved around Palmyra, the Euphrates, and Deir ez-Zor, while RAND described Russian helicopter detachments rotating through Shayrat and Tiyas in Homs Province during counter-ISIS operations and the run-up to the Palmyra operation.
Sources: Russia Beyond Mi-28N Palmyra Videos, TASS Mi-28N Syria Combat Debut, Al Jazeera Russian Gunships Syria, TASS Ka-52 Syria Debut, CNA Russian Air Campaign, RAND Road to Damascus
Narrative
The documented user was Russia, operating in support of the Syrian government and allied forces. The sources support Russian deployment, fielding, and combat use of Mi-28N helicopters in Syria; they do not show Syrian possession of the aircraft.
The best-supported role was attack-helicopter fire support against Islamic State ground targets. TASS and RBC identify Mi-28N strikes near Palmyra against an armored vehicle and a building, while Al Jazeera and Jamestown place Mi-28N and other Russian attack helicopters in the broader close-air-support setting of the Palmyra operation after Russia's March 2016 partial drawdown announcement.
The later campaign context shows Mi-28N use as part of a broader Russian rotary-wing network rather than a single isolated sortie. CNA lists Mi-28N among helicopters involved around Palmyra, the Euphrates, and Deir ez-Zor in 2016-2017, and RAND connects Mi-28 detachments to forward basing at Shayrat and Tiyas during Homs Province counter-ISIS operations. The public record used here does not establish a complete Mi-28 sortie count, a complete target list, or every base rotation.
Sources: TASS Mi-28N Syria Combat Debut, RBC Mi-28N Palmyra Videos, Al Jazeera Russian Gunships Syria, Jamestown Palmyra Russian Airpower, CNA Russian Air Campaign, RAND Road to Damascus
