Oleksii Barsuk: "While operating "Osa", I destroyed 61 targets. One of them was Su-25 jet."
On the first day of the full-scale invasion, Oleksii Barsuk’s crew shot down an enemy Su-25. For that action the soldiers were recommended for state decorations. At the time they were operating an Osa surface-to-air missile system. Today my interviewee is the deputy commander of a UAV-interceptor battalion within the 1129th Bila Tserkva SAM Regiment. He is fighting in the Donbas—an area that has known no peace throughout the entire Russo-Ukrainian war.
- You joined the military before the full-scale invasion, you signed a contract back in 2019. Where were you served at that time?
- At first, we were on combat duty in Kherson. Then we were stationed near Crimea, where we provided airspace cover. Later, we were redeployed to the Donetsk axis, toward Volnovakha—that’s where we encountered the full-scale war.
- Did you anticipate such an offensive?
- No. At the time, there were no signs pointing to it. Neither the mood nor any intentions hinted at something like that. Only toward the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 did information start to surface about a possible attack, people began talking about it everywhere.
We started realizing that something big was coming when we were already in the Donetsk region. We were conducting combat drills. Just a few days before the invasion, the Russians became noticeably more active. In the middle of the night on February 24, 2022, we received the order to get ready. It had begun. We understood everything at once. I grabbed my backpack and sleeping bag, threw them into the combat vehicle (I was initially operating the Osa SAM system). We rolled out. We never returned to that base camp. Whatever I had with me at that moment, stayed with me (smiles. – O.M.).
- Were you shocked by what was happening?
- Not really. We accepted it as it was. Is it necessary? It is! Let’s roll! The order was simple: take down everything in the sky, none of ours are flying there. Copy that. We’re on it.
- So, only Russian aircraft were in the air at that point?
-That’s right. The situation on the Donetsk direction was different from Kyiv, where our own aircraft were targeting enemy jets. In our direction, at the beginning of the invasion, only Russian planes were flying. On the second day of the full-scale war, we shot down their Su-25.
-No way! You were operating the Osa at the time, right?
- Exactly. After that, the entire crew received state decorations. Those of us who were enlisted at the time, like myself, were awarded the Order "For Courage," 3rd Class. The officers received the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, 3rd Class.
- Tell us, how did you manage to "nail" such a high-value target?
- Honestly, at first we didn’t even realize it was a plane. A target was just approaching. We got the launch order. Fired the missile—and that was that (smiles. – O.M.). We repositioned right after. Later, command confirmed that we’d taken down a Su-25.
- Were the Russians carrying out heavy airstrikes at the time?
- Very actively. It was obvious they had been preparing for this. And they came in brazenly. I think that’s exactly why we managed to shoot that plane down. But within a few days, they changed tactics—they started acting smarter, stopped flying into our air defense kill zone. In other words, they stopped being so reckless. After that, most of our work shifted to targeting enemy UAVs.
- How long did you operate the "Osa"?
- From 2022 until June 2023. After that, I served as deputy crew chief, holding the rank of sergeant. Later, I became the crew chief myself, as an officer.
While I was operating the "Osa", I took out 61 targets. One of them was a Su-25 jet; the rest were various types of reconnaissance UAVs and a Forpost strike drone.
- I know some of your colleagues mark their vehicles for every target they shoot down. Did you do the same?
- No. None of us did, because we never had a dedicated crew-and-vehicle setup. The launchers were a bit long in the tooth, so they kept breaking down. We’d spend a day on one machine, its engine would quit, we’d drag it to the repair yard, hop into another, and roll out on the next task.
Sure, I know the tradition of tally marks. But we simply never got the chance, and once the count hit dozens, no one bothered (smiles. – O.M.).
- What other systems have you worked on?
- The Stormer SAM. I managed to nail two targets with it—a Lancet loitering munition and a Supercam recon drone. I didn’t operate it for long, but overall it’s a solid piece of kit.
- Some people still say the Russians are fighting in old Soviet tin cans. But that’s not really true. By the way, the Osa is Soviet too...
- When it was first produced, the Osa was ahead of its time in terms of design. That’s why it held up so well and is still relevant today. Of course, the nature of war has changed. These days, we can’t get as close as we used to because of FPV drones, Lancets, and the like. But back at the start of the full-scale invasion, none of that existed.
Eventually, I got really interested in FPV tech and started digging into it seriously. We weren’t the first in this field, but we scaled it up. So now we’re still doing the same job, taking down enemy targets in the sky, but with more modern tools. In just six months, we’ve taken down far more than we did with the Osa SAM system. The count isn’t in dozens anymore, it’s in the hundreds.
The enemy has to be eliminated as efficiently as possible, so you keep looking for new solutions. It doesn’t matter what you’re using to strike the enemy, as long as you’ve got the will to fight! And we had it, so we switched to drones.
- Was it easier or harder?
- Harder. Especially since it was something completely new for us. First, we had to find a supplier. The only ones who believed in our "crazy idea" back then were the Wild Hornets—they provided us with the drones. The guys were awesome. See, we used to operate SAM systems, so at first we were literally calling them up asking, "Hey, how do we even turn this thing on?" (smiles. – O.M.). They explained everything patiently, step by step. And together, we took off.
- How’s the government supply situation on your end?
- Not great. We do get visits from working groups, so there’s some communication. UAVs are a promising field with huge potential. But in reality, we’re currently relying heavily on charitable organizations for support. It’s foundations like Come Back Alive and Serhii Sternenko’s community fund that are keeping us going. We’d like to see more involvement from the state. Once the government starts supplying the types of drones our unit actually needs, things will change. It would be great if they could procure everything required. What really matters is feedback—real feedback. Not just: "Here’s your drones—go fly." And then you end up having to sand them down with a jigsaw just to get them in shape. What can I say—sometimes the UAV we get just isn’t the right fit. We don’t need UAVs designed to take out infantry.
Overall, thanks to volunteer organizations, we’ve been operating quite successfully. I honestly don’t know how we’d manage without them.
- Pilots often say we’re fighting a drone war. What do you think?
- Look, here’s why. Drones are cheaper and, in some cases, more effective than certain munitions, while still putting the enemy in serious danger. It all comes down to numbers: you can field lower-cost assets and eliminate more enemy troops.
- Across your whole career, which UAVs have you enjoyed working with the most?"
- FPVs. When we were learning, I used to head out with the guys. It was exciting—we’d be sitting in a dugout, launching drones and taking down targets. Now, like I said, we’re focused on scaling things up and improving the effectiveness of our systems. We’re constantly looking for new solutions and refining our approach.
- Am I right in understanding that you’ve been fighting in Donbas from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion up to now?
- That’s correct. But our regiment is also engaged on other fronts. As for our unit, yes — we’ve been stationed here continuously.
- During our conversation, you mentioned that at first the enemy acted boldly in the skies over Donbas...
- I’ll tell you more: from the start of the full-scale invasion until the end of last year, they kept conducting reconnaissance as they pleased. It wasn’t until we introduced new tools — the ones we’re using now to cause them real trouble.
- Are they suffering heavy losses?
- That’s because their reconnaissance isn’t effective. They can’t always coordinate an Iskander strike, guide a GAB (guided aerial bomb), and follow up with infantry support. For us, all of that is an integrated process. Sometimes, adjacent units working with us will even call and thank us for shooting down a UAV that was harassing them or adjusting enemy artillery fire.
- Aside from the Su-25 we mentioned earlier, what other high-value targets have you taken down?
- Mostly Merlin UAVs — their most expensive flagship drone, priced at $300,000. We’ve taken down three so far. It’s a large reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying at altitudes of 5,000 meters or more and conducting surveillance from that distance. It’s packed with foreign-made components. These are rare on the front lines. Most of the time, the enemy uses the standard set: Zala, Supercam, Orlan.
- Did you have a dream target? Something you really wanted to take down?
- Everything we dreamed of — we’ve already taken down (smiles – O.M.). Though we’d still like to bring down their Orion strike UAV to complete the set. It’s a high-value target, comparable to our Bayraktar.
- Have you tried to shoot down the Orion?
- We’ve tried. We detected it, but it managed to escape.
- What’s the hardest type of target to hit?
- Right now — everything. The enemy keeps adapting, constantly upgrading and implementing new ways to evade our strikes.
- What do you see most often in the sky these days?
- Everything you can imagine: Lancet, Supercam, Orlan, Kub, Molniya, Privet-82…
- Privet-82 is a relatively new drone. What can you tell us about it?
- It’s a strike UAV built from the cheapest components, basically two sticks with a plywood body on top. But if it hits the target, the damage can be massive.
- Drones aside, artillery hasn’t gone anywhere. They still launch missiles…
– Of course. But when we "blind their eyes," their artillery becomes far less effective. For example, the Orlan-30 provides laser targeting for their guns, allowing them to strike with precision. If there’s no one to illuminate the target, then there won’t be any hits either.
- Can you share a story from the war that stuck with you the most?
- The ones you remember are the high-stress situations. Like when you survive a certain maneuver (smiles. – O.M.). There was a time we had to flee from a tank that was firing on our vehicles as we pulled out from a position. We had wounded that day. Or when the enemy spots you and starts tearing your position apart with artillery.
Also, on the first day of the 2023 counteroffensive, I was wounded. Thank God we were in foreign-made equipment—that saved my life. I suffered a blast injury.
- What happened exactly?
- A kamikaze drone scored a direct hit on our vehicle.
- Did you have no electronic warfare (EW) at that time?
- A Lancet targeted us, it spotted the vehicle and hit it with direct guidance. Back then, EW systems weren’t nearly as widespread as they are now. They were more of a luxury. And honestly, even if we’d had one, there’s no guarantee it would’ve saved us.
- But with the introduction of EW systems, things have changed, right?
- They have. Like I said, neither the enemy nor we are standing still. Every action has a counteraction.
The key thing is that we aim to hold the line using technology, not "meat assaults" like they do.
- And the enemy is still launching those kinds of assaults, especially in your direction
- They are. To them, soldiers aren’t people, they’re a resource, just like equipment. And they have plenty of both. Our command does its best to preserve the lives of our personnel. But for the Russians, it’s a different story. Their attitude is: one dies—another shows up tomorrow. One of their soldiers is worth the same as an FPV kamikaze drone.
- By destroying reconnaissance UAVs, you’re directly protecting our infantry…
- But UAVs don’t just fly over the front, they reach deep into the rear to enable future launches of missiles, kamikaze drones, and more. Everything works as a system. Our goal is to prevent the enemy from accomplishing its mission, so it can’t locate our positions, supply depots, personnel, or equipment. We also provide cover for our artillery. When the guys know there’s no reconnaissance drone overhead, they can operate with full confidence.
- In your line of work, it’s not just about skills, reaction speed matters too, right?
- Absolutely! You know how I measure how well I’m doing? When people from other units come to you for advice, when they ask if they can visit and learn from you—that’s the real indicator for me.
- Do you react somehow when you score a hit? Do you cheer? Yell?
- That was only with the first targets (smiles. – O.M.). After that, it becomes routine: target down, confirmation received—check the box, job done. These days, we keep it calm.
- The enemy is changing its tactics when it comes to striking civilian cities. From what I hear, that’s also happening on the front line. What does that tell you?
- They’re trying to wear down our air defenses. The enemy no longer operates by the book like they used to. Once we brought in our own tech, they started adapting to us.
- Their missiles and drones are maneuvering…
- So are we (smiles. – O.M.).
- But that makes your job harder, doesn’t it?
-The professionalism of our crews allows us to counter their maneuvers. We adapt to the situation. We’re not standing still—we’re constantly improving, learning, becoming better and stronger.
- And in general, what does it mean to you, when Russians strike even civilian cities?
- This is pure cynicism at its worst! They don’t care who they’re targeting or what the consequences will be. Russians have always seen us as the enemy. They’ve always viewed us as second-class people. Let’s not forget—before 2014, our television was flooded with Russian content.
And their TV shows and films? All of them glorify law enforcement, special services, and the military. That was being fed to us systematically. When they saw they weren’t getting the results they wanted, they attacked.
- What motivates you to keep fighting today?
- My family, my wife, child, and parents. We have to protect our loved ones. We're doing our best to hold the line. Of course, everyone’s tired. But who else if not us? People don’t want to join the military, they’re fighting with TCR (The Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support). That’s their choice.
- And how do you feel about people like that?
- How are you supposed to feel?! If they want to leave the country, let them go. What good are they here anyway? If you drag someone like that in by force, nothing good will come of it. What really matters is the will to fight. Why are we effective? Because we’re united by a common purpose.
- What do you think about the so-called ceasefire everyone’s talking about right now?
- What kind of ceasefire can you possibly have with them?! Remember what happened at Easter? Russia announced a halt in hostilities—and then what? They didn’t stick to it. I was on position that day, not far from the enemy. Enemy kept firing from early morning till late evening. There were incoming strikes not far from us.
- The U.S. is already bringing up the idea of direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia (we’re speaking on May 2—before talk of possible Russia–Ukraine talks in Turkey started. – O.M.). Do you believe there’s any chance of reaching an agreement?
- I don’t. We need to keep advancing, use the latest technologies, train our personnel, and never stop. All these ceasefires only weaken us. They make us let our guard down. People start thinking, "Why go train if they just said there’s going to be a ceasefire tomorrow?!"
- Honestly, no one can predict when this war will end. But if it does in the foreseeable future, do you plan to stay in the military?
- Once it’s all over—and we’re sure it won’t happen again—I’ll leave the army. I’ll go back to my family. But if I realize the threat hasn’t gone anywhere, and there’s a chance it could happen again, I’ll stay.
- Russian teenagers are already being trained to fly drones. There’s massive war propaganda targeting their youth—even kids in kindergartens are being dragged into it with all those "parades" and such. Given their attitude toward Ukraine, it’s hard to believe they’ll ever truly leave us alone...
- I get that. But a conscious Ukrainian will also learn, like how to operate drones, for example.
- To me, the key word here is "conscious."
- And such people do exist! I truly hope that even now, conscious individuals will come join us—people who are ready to help, grow alongside us, and scale up what we’re building together.
P.S. Friends, our air defenders need your support. If you’re willing and able to help, here are the details:
🔗Link to the jar
https://send.monobank.ua/jar/GkSJ1RxVG
💳Bank card number
4441 1111 2380 3938
Olha Moskaliuk, Censor.NET
Photos provided by the interviewee.
