By Orla Guerin BBC News
Helicopters in flight during operations in eastern Ukraine
The best way to return alive from the battlefield is to stay low, close to the ground, and fly just above the trees. Too low and you’ll be shot down by machine guns, too high and you’ll be picked up by enemy air defense systems.
Errors are unacceptable for Ukrainian helicopter pilots in wartime.
Let’s talk to Roman.
Roman flew helicopters in countless combat missions for the Sikorsky Brigade and was decorated for his bravery. He told me that he is now 34 years old, but he wouldn’t give his last name.
“The closer it is to the target, the lower it flies, regarding a meter or two above the ground,” Roman told the BBC.
“It’s not enough to just hit the target. We have to get home safely, we have to get the crew and the helicopter back safely for the next operation.”
Over the past year, some of Roman’s fellow pilots have not been able to return.
The BBC was specially granted access to a small airfield in the open to cover the fighting in the Ukrainian skies. If Russia identifies the airfield, it will become a major target, so the location of the interview is not disclosed.
Romain has a good reputation among his peers as a pilot who can handle difficult maneuvers.
We asked Mr. Roman to put the camera in the cockpit when he went to the front line in eastern Ukraine. Two helicopters followed Roman’s helicopter and began to move under the gray sky.
Below are the zig-zagging Ukrainian trenches and an abandoned village.
It then skated across a frozen lake and returned 30 minutes later with some 80 missiles fired.
As he landed, he flew so low above us that he might be seen waving through the window. Roman-san is famous among his brigade mates for his difficult maneuvers. Ukrainian Top Gun in an old Soviet aircraft.
The Mi-8 that Roman pilots was manufactured around the time he was born. It lacks heavy armor and modern warning systems to detect incoming missiles. Each operation may be the last for Mr. Roman.
“Of course there is some risk,” Roman said following landing.
“I just don’t think regarding it because if something does happen, it’s not my problem, it’s my relative’s problem.”
It sounded like a joke, but Roman-san’s expression was hidden behind his balaclava.
Missiles fired from helicopters during fighting in eastern Ukraine
Roman did not reveal the target to us, but it might be the eastern city of Bakhmut, which is under siege by Russian forces.
“It’s a normal strategy. Just focus 100% on the task,” Roman said. “There are comrades waiting for me on the ground. Calling the air force means that you are really struggling.”
Roman says he doesn’t even think regarding the Russian military on the other side of the attack.
“If the Russian army comes with the war, we will only defend Ukraine. We are victims, not aggressors. To win this war, we must kill the Russian soldiers. We are ready to kill everyone.” there is
Maintenance checks begin as soon as the helicopter lands. Replenish fuel and equipment and prepare for the next flight.
Missiles are manually loaded. One of them was engraved with a violent message to the Russian military.
A few minutes later, Roman adjusted coordinates to a new target and took off.
The Soviet-era equipment that Ukraine currently has will not win the war, Roman said.
Helicopters await next operation in eastern Ukraine
A spokesman for the Sikorsky Brigade told me what it meant.
“We need new helicopters with operational facilities, precision weapons and ammunition. We need everything.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already asked the West for everything from equipment to fighter jets. With wars that may drag on, this list is getting longer.
Roman was on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine a year ago. The former peacekeeper now spoke of the danger of endless conflict with Russia.
“Just looking at our history, we’ve always had problems with our neighbor[Russia]. If Ukraine wins this battle, but Russia doesn’t change, they’ll attack once more in years or decades. will come