Published
Update
Video length: 2 min
War in Ukraine: the perilous missions of helicopter pilots
War in Ukraine: the perilous missions of helicopter pilots – (franceinfo)
Considered true heroes, Ukrainian helicopter pilots take part in dangerous missions to weaken the positions of the Russian army. Around thirty pilots have died since the start of the war.
A Ukrainian attack helicopter has just taken off from a secret base somewhere in the east of the country. It is a risky mission at low altitude towards Bakhmut (Ukraine). The targets, a military convoy and Russian positions. Images that we owe to Agence France-Presse which installed a camera inside the device. Petro, the pilot, wants to testify with a hidden face: “The objective is to fly as low as possible, not to be visible on Russian radar systems, so that they know nothing until the last moment”.
Many deaths among pilots
These combat helicopters are equipped with rockets. 15 on the edges on the right and 15 on the left. The objective to be achieved is specified shortly before departure. The itinerary is refined at the last moment, it is essential for the success of the mission. The flight is scheduled to last 30 minutes round trip, at a maximum altitude of 180 meters. Once the rockets are fired, the helicopter turns around at low altitude. It is a drone which will check whether the target has been reached. Pilots are considered heroes. Since the start of the war, around thirty of them have been killed during a combat mission.
