The Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilot destroyed russian Shahed-type attack drone with an air-to-air missile during a low-altitude interception over a forested area, according to footage released by the West Air Command. The dramatic video captured the moment Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft successfully engaged the drone in flight before it exploded in midair.
The footage shows the Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter maneuvering into position before launching a missile at the incoming target. Seconds later, the drone is struck and bursts into flames above the treeline. The interception reportedly took place at extremely low altitude, adding to the complexity and danger of the mission.
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According to the West Air Command, the interception was carried out by a pilot from the 204th Brigade with the callsign Marseille. The pilot later described the engagement as particularly challenging because the Shahed drone continuously maneuvered and changed both altitude and direction during flight.
"The Shahed drone maneuvered, changed altitude and flight direction. That complicated my work" the pilot explained. He added that he had to approach the target at critically low altitude before visually identifying it and launching the missile. After the strike, he saw the drone's debris falling into the forest below.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian artillery crews from the 24th Brigade have turned a captured russian self-propelled gun against its former operators during the ongoing battles for Chasiv Yar. The brigade recently released footage showing the Soviet-designed 2S5 Giatsint-S system firing at russian positions near the contested city.
Read more: Captured russian Giatsint-S System Turns Against Moscow Near Chasiv Yar (Video)
