Ukraine's only female pilot of a combat Mi-8 destroys Russian Geran drones

Combat experience of the sole female Mi-8 pilot

A 23-year-old Senior Lieutenant Kateryna serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She is the only woman carrying out combat sorties on a combat Mi-8 helicopter. This was reported by the German magazine loyal, with the material published on the website of the Bundeswehr Reservists' Association.

The servicewoman serves in the 18th Army Aviation Brigade. Aboard the Mi-8, Kateryna works as the second pilot, taking responsibility for navigation. In total, she has two years of combat flight experience. Among her key tasks is the destruction of Russian long-range strike drones of the Geran type using missiles.

Tactics for countering high-speed drones

According to Kateryna, intercepting enemy aircraft is complicated by the fact that Russia is increasingly equipping them with jet engines, which significantly increases their flight speed. Despite this, Ukrainian military personnel continue to refine tactics for countering such targets.

In addition to fighting UAVs, the brigade carries out tasks to supply ground forces and provide direct air support to units on the front line. To strike ground targets, helicopters use missiles with a range of up to eight kilometres.

During flights near the front, crews try to stay at an altitude of 10–15 metres above the ground to avoid detection by radar. They also use the features of the local terrain and relief for camouflage.

Technical support issues for aviation

One of the problems for Ukrainian army aviation remains outdated equipment. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the possibility of sending helicopters for repair to Russia has disappeared. As a result, some machines have to be dismantled for spare parts to keep others in working order.

Army Aviation Commander Major General Pavlo Bardakov expressed a desire to make American Black Hawk helicopters the new standard for the Ground Forces. Currently, there are two such machines in Ukraine, but they are in the service of military intelligence.

A future challenge could be a shortage of flight personnel. Although the 18th Brigade does not yet feel an acute lack of staff, the manpower hunger may grow later due to an insufficient number of young people willing to serve in the army.

Growing role of women in the Armed Forces

According to data from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, at the beginning of 2026, 55,000 women were serving in the Armed Forces. For comparison, two years earlier, this figure was 48,000.

Kateryna believes that the current period is favourable for women who want to join the military and build a military career. In her words, due to the war, junior female servicemembers receive responsibility and opportunities for advancement more quickly, and the number of women holding command positions is constantly increasing.