Ukrainian military pilots made risky flights to besieged Mariupol, delivering ammunition and necessary equipment. This was reported by Dnipro Operative and posted video of one of these missions. 16 Mi-8 military helicopters loaded with the necessary equipment flew to the defenders of Mariupol, which was blocked by the Russian invaders.

There were a total of seven such missions. Each time, the helicopters successfully delivered what was needed to sustain the resistance: food, drinking water, medicine, and ammunition for the city’s defenders to a depth of more than 100 kilometers.

During one of the missions to strengthen the garrison, 72 soldiers from the Azov Regiment were transferred. Earlier, information about the secret missions of Ukrainian pilots in the blockade of Mariupol confirmed the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kirill Budanov. Ukrainian pilots managed to bypass the Russian organized air defense system around the city.

Each of the crew made 2 to 4 flights during the mission. The Russians managed to shoot down 2 helicopters. They were also able to destroy a helicopter that came to the rescue of the crashed crew. We would like to remind you that on May 20, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview on the occasion of the third anniversary of his inauguration, that many pilots carrying food to Mariupol had disappeared.

Absolutely heroic people who know that it is difficult, that it is almost impossible to fly to Azovstal and bring them medicine, food, water, take the corpses of the wounded. They all died. There were many things going on that no one could officially comment on. “Because there were no air corridors to Azovstal because of the strong air defense of Russia deployed,” said the President.

Kyrylo Budanov did not disclose the exact number of casualties among Ukrainian pilots. Source