Ukraine’s army aviation has become the first in the world to systematically use helicopters to intercept enemy drones, particularly during air attacks involving Shahed loitering munitions.
This was reported in a comment to Ukrinform by Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Liubarets, a 1st class pilot and Hero of Ukraine.
“This is our own know-how. No one else in the world has used helicopters in such a systematic way against drones. And this experience is already attracting interest from NATO partners,” Liubarets emphasized.
According to him, Ukrainian army aviation is not borrowing foreign standards, but rather creating combat solutions that are now being studied in the West. Notable examples include operations on Snake Island and sorties to besieged Mariupol.
[embedded content]
Liubarets noted that Ukrainian military pilots gained unique experience even before the full-scale invasion, during UN peacekeeping missions.
“Ukrainians performed missions in the most difficult conditions, where many others refused to operate. That’s why army aviation has survived and grown stronger,” he explained.
Liubarets stressed the critical need to modernize aircraft.
“We’re carrying out combat missions thanks to professionalism, not equipment. But without modernization, even air defense efficiency could drop — and that would affect everyone in the country,” he warned.
Despite exhaustion and constant stress, Ukrainian helicopter crews continue flying missions.
“There were times our crews slept only 4 hours a day. They worked 24/7,” Liubarets recalled.
He also expressed special gratitude to veteran civilian pilots who voluntarily returned to service.
“These are professionals who didn’t wait for draft notices. They came on their own, asking us to hold them a spot — because they were already on their way,” he said. However, he added that new personnel are still urgently needed in Ukrainian aviation.
As reported by Ukrinform, during Russia’s July 4 attack on Kyiv, a new negative record was set: 550 aerial targets were launched in a single strike, including over 330 Shahed drones, according to Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.
Photo credit: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Source: Ukraine becomes first to use helicopters to hunt drones at scale
