Ukrainian drone operator mocks Russian helicopter in tanker strike
A Russian helicopter attempting to protect a tanker pursued a Ukrainian drone from attack. The pursuit ended with the drone attacking the vessel anyway.
The dramatic footage was released by Major Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. It shows a Ukrainian drone approaching a Russian-linked tanker while an armed helicopter attempts to intercept it.
The helicopter appears to open fire with a machine gun as it pursues the drone. Despite the incoming fire, the Ukrainian operator manages to evade the helicopter and keep the drone on course.
The unmanned aircraft eventually reaches the tanker and crashes into its superstructure near the vessel’s conning tower. The helicopter fails to prevent the strike, despite following the drone throughout the attack.
The strike is part of Ukraine’s growing campaign against Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black and Azov Seas. These vessels are used to transport Russian oil and fuel while helping Moscow evade sanctions.
According to Brovdi, Ukrainian unmanned forces have attacked 285 Russian vessels during the first ten weeks of the operation.
The attacks are forcing Russia to increase protection around its tankers. The latest footage shows that even an armed helicopter may not be enough to stop a determined Ukrainian drone operator.
