MiG-29 fighter pilot shares experience of shooting down two Shahed UAVs in one combat mission

"I had a feeling of confidence," Pavlo said.

“I took off from one of the operational airfields. Before the flight, I said ‘hello’ to the plane, mentally saying that we have to shoot down a Shahed.”

After he destroyed one drone, he received a task to hit another target.

"Then I mentally told my plane again: 'We have to do this with you, shoot down the second one...'" the pilot said.

“And we did it. The night was sleepless, but productive for me and ended in a calm morning for the Ukrainians who were targeted by these two enemy drones.”

The Air Command West noted that one of its combat missions is to work in the sky to repel Russian massive combined missile and air strikes.

Pavlo himself notes that shooting down small and low-speed attack drones "is not as easy as it seems."

"You have to calculate everything carefully: the speed of the aircraft, your maneuvers in the sky," the pilot said.

“But we are well prepared, we have trained a lot and are still training to effectively fight the Shahed UAVs. Of course, you feel happy that you managed to destroy the target. But it lasts for a few seconds, and then you focus on the next flight mission again.”

Pavlo also noted that victories in the sky require the work of many people on the ground as technicians and engineers constantly keep the aircraft ready for combat missions.

"We are working in a 24/7 mode," he said.

“Combat crews of radio engineering units help to detect the target, and the personnel of air direction centers help to approach it. This is a well-coordinated work of a large team. I am glad to be here and help my country defeat the aggressor in this way.”

Russia attacked Ukraine with six missiles and 23 Shaheds during an overnight attack. Air defense intercepted 28 targets.