Air War in Ukraine - FPV Drones vs. Russian Aviation
During the observed period (March 1 to March 31), the war in Ukraine was overshadowed in the media by the U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran. This does not mean that the fighting in Ukraine subsided—quite the opposite. The most intense activity was taking place in the air.
It appears that the Russian advance has
nearly exhausted itself. Despite heavy losses
in lives, Russian forces have made little
progress. On the contrary, in the Zaporizhzhia
Oblast, Ukrainian defenders have managed to
push the occupiers back slightly.
Drones have played the biggest role in
this stagnation, dominating the skies over
the front line. Both Ukraine and Russia
continue escalating the drone war, and in the
past technological superiority has shifted
between the two sides. At present, however,
Ukraine has held the technological edge for
some time. This is evident in both offensive
and defensive operations.
For example, Ukraine shot down 33,000
Russian drones in March—a monthly record.
This means that although Russia is deploying
increasing numbers of unmanned systems,
Ukraine is also becoming more effective at
destroying them. A significant role is played
by interceptors—fighter drones designed
to destroy other drones. This is a relatively
cheap technology compared to air defense
missiles. The number of deployed interceptors
and their effectiveness increases each
month. Countries in the Persian Gulf, facing
Iranian retaliatory strikes, have also shown
interest in Ukrainian technologies. Kyiv has
sent specialists to the Middle East and signed
military cooperation agreements with several
countries.
Interceptors have recently appeared in the
armament of the Antonov An-28 aircraft. Its
use against Russian drones has been reported
multiple times. First mentioned in October
last year, it already bore markings for 59 kills.
By February this year, that number had nearly
doubled to 117. The An-28 originally used the
American M134 Minigun mounted in a side
door to engage drones. Ground control had
to guide the aircraft to areas where Russian
drones were operating. Pilots then had to
visually locate Shahed/Geran drones using
night vision devices before engaging them.
While the guidance method has not changed,
recent footage shows the An-28 carrying six
hardpoints for interceptors—three under
each wing. According to Ukrainian sources,
Miro Barič
FPV Drones vs. Russian Aviation
During the observed period (March 1 to March 31), the war in Ukraine
was overshadowed in the media by the U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran.
This does not mean that the fighting in Ukraine subsided—quite the opposite.
The most intense activity was taking place in the air.
Air War in Ukraine
A Sukhoi Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force.
An Antonov An-28 in an older image from October 2025.
UKRAJINA
INFO Eduard18
May 2026