During a large-scale russian aerial attack on February 26, a crew of Ukrainian naval aviation helicopter shot down eight russian Shahed- and Gerbera-type unmanned aerial vehicles. The footage of the engagement was released by the Navy, highlighting a rare air-to-air intercept conducted over the sea.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, the helicopter crew engaged the incoming drones during the mass attack, intercepting them above maritime areas before they could reach their intended targets. The video shows the aircraft maneuvering into firing position and destroying the UAVs with precise machine-gun fire.
The use of rotary-wing aircraft against loitering munitions underscores the adaptability of Ukraine's air defense architecture. While ground-based air defense systems and mobile fire groups remain the backbone of counter-drone operations, helicopters provide mobility, rapid response capability, and the ability to patrol wide sectors, particularly over coastal and maritime approaches.
Engaging Shahed-type drones from a helicopter is a demanding task. These UAVs are relatively small, fly at low to medium altitudes, and can be difficult to detect and track, especially over water. Successful interception requires close coordination, accurate visual identification, and steady gunnery under dynamic flight conditions.
Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, publicly praised the helicopter crew for their professionalism and coordinated performance. In a statement accompanying the footage release, he expressed pride in the Naval Aviation branch and thanked the servicemen for their effective combat work.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian forces continue to conduct precision strikes against russian military targets both in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and inside the russian federation, according to a statement released by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The latest operations demonstrate Kyiv's sustained focus on degrading russian command, logistics, and air defense infrastructure across multiple sectors of the front.
