Ukrainian Gunner Shoots Down Russian Shahed Drone From Open Cockpit
A newly released video shows a Ukrainian gunner shooting down Russian Shahed attack drones from the open rear cockpit of a Soviet Yak-52 primary trainer aircraft.
The footage, reportedly recorded over the Odesa region, was released by Ukraine’s 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade “Kherson.”
The aircraft is flown by a pilot in the front cockpit while a second crew member engages low-flying drones from the open rear cockpit.
In one sequence, smoke trails from a drone’s wing after several shots before it explodes over the sea. Other clips show drones erupting in flames, crashing into a field and falling through the clouds after being hit.
The brigade identified the pilot as Stanislav, who described the feeling of completing air defense missions in an interview with Ukrainian outlet Censor.NET.
“The best feelings, after completing a combat mission, are not experienced in the sky. The true realization comes when you return to the home airfield and see a clear sky, and hear over the radio: there are no more aerial targets. That is when you feel satisfaction and peace,” Stanislav said.
The Yak-52 is a Soviet-designed, two-seat piston-engine trainer aircraft originally built to train military pilots. It was later adapted by Ukraine for counter-drone operations.
Ukrainian forces have also adapted Mil Mi-8 “Hip” transport helicopters armed with machine guns to hunt and destroy Russian drones. Video released in August 2024 showed a gunner engaging and shooting down a Russian Shahed-136 attack drone.
The new footage was released as Ukraine launched a new wave of long-range strikes inside Russia, including an attack near the Engels-2 air base in the Saratov region.
Russian authorities issued missile and drone alerts as fires broke out at what local reports described as military barracks near the base. Engels-2 hosts Russia’s strategic Tu-95 and Tu-160 nuclear-capable bombers, which have been repeatedly used to launch Kh-101 cruise missile strikes against Ukraine.
