Russia deploys helicopters to destroy naval drones in Black Sea – Ukrainian Navy

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk announced this on Ukrainian television, Ukrinform reports.

"They [the Russians] are using them [helicopters] for counter-drone patrols. This mainly happens in the Black Sea. I don't recall them using helicopters in the Sea of Azov – there's no particular need for that there. But in the Black Sea, particularly in the eastern part, helicopters are frequently spotted. They have chosen this as one of their methods to combat naval drones," Pletenchuk said.

According to him, helicopters provide aerial surveillance and tracking of naval drones, allowing Russian forces to monitor and engage them more effectively.

Additionally, Russia is also deploying patrol aircraft to aid in drone detection.

"They also use patrol planes, which are mainly propeller-driven models such as the An-26, Be-12, and Be-200. These are older aircraft, but their low speed and altitude make them effective for surveillance and searching for these drones," he added.