"No One Has Ever Done Anything Like This Before."
- 3.07.2026, 22:08
- 3,200
The commander of the Ukrainian Army Aviation named the most challenging operation.
The Ukrainian helicopters’ breakthrough into besieged Mariupol was the most critical, most complex, and most grueling operation carried out by the army aviation during the full-scale war.
This was stated in his first interview for liga.net, Brigadier General Pavel Bardakov, commander of the Army Aviation of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“No one has ever done anything like this before: flying 120 km over enemy territory to a target surrounded by air defense systems both at sea and on land,” he said.
The flights to “Azovstal” were unprecedented in their complexity. During these missions, Ukrainian pilots delivered communications equipment, ammunition, weapons, medical supplies, and other essential cargo to the defenders of Mariupol, and evacuated the wounded.
“We carried out this operation at a high cost, but in doing so, we boosted morale and delivered everything that could help the defenders of Mariupol. We evacuated our wounded comrades. It was worth the effort,” the commander emphasized.
Bardakov also listed the following among the most significant operations carried out by the Army Aviation:
- the defense of the Kyiv region (where aircraft from all brigades operated practically around the clock)
- the liberation of Zmeinyi Island (according to the commander, this was a daring and vigorous joint operation with special forces, artillery, and the Air Force)
- the raid on Belgorod,
- support for the Defense Forces during the liberation of the Kharkiv region,
- combat operations in southern Ukraine.
“Currently, in addition to our primary mission of supporting the infantry, we are also carrying out air defense tasks. This is also one of our most important operations, which continues to this day,” Bardakov added.
Army Aviation Commander Pavel Bardakov explained that on the eve of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine managed to reclaim 15 combat helicopters that had been leased from the private company “Ukrainian Helicopters” for nearly 20 years. After being re-militarized, they were used from the very first days of the major war to transport military personnel, ammunition, and cargo.
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