26
Ukraine’s Volunteer Team Downed 213 Russian Drones Using An-28 With Machine Guns and Interceptors
May 10, 2026
Posted 4 hours ago by
Ukraine’s modified An-28 aircraft used to intercept Russian Shahed-type attack drones has reportedly destroyed 213 aerial targets since the start of operations. We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field. According to The New York Times on May 6, the tally was visible through kill markings painted on the fuselage of the aircraft, which had been converted from a civilian transport plane into a low-cost airborne drone interception platform.
The aircraft is operated by a volunteer crew working alongside Ukraine’s air defense network. The report described how the An-28 is scrambled during nighttime Russian drone attacks and directed toward incoming targets by dispatchers before visually locating drones in the air. The aircraft is equipped with an American-made M134 Minigun capable of firing thousands of rounds per minute. According to the report, only short bursts are typically needed to destroy a Shahed drone. The New York Times noted that each interception costs roughly $500 in ammunition, significantly less than the price of surface-to-air missile launches, which can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
United24 Media
Coverage and analysis from Ukraine. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.