Legendary Ukrainian pilot Kostyantyn Oborin, 63, falls in battle

espreso.tv ^ | July 18, 2025 | Kate Kikot

[ransomnote]

ransomnote: The source, Expresso TV, is Ukrainian.

Espreso TV (Ukrainian: Еспресо TV) is an Internet television station in Ukraine that started to operate in November 2013. Espreso TV enabled the Euromaidan protests to be broadcast worldwide.

Odesa aviator and combat pilot Colonel Kostyantyn 'Kamikaze' Oborin gave his life for Ukraine during a combat mission, officials and his loved ones announced on July 19, 2025

News of Colonel Oborin’s death was shared by Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov and head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration Oleh Kiper.

"A very sad news for Odesa. Kostyantyn Oborin died during a combat mission — a veteran of the Afghan war, a participant in the current struggle for Ukraine’s independence, director of the Odesa Aeroclub, volunteer, mentor, a man of great soul and courage," Trukhanov said.

Hit on a Shahed drone. Photo from Colonel Oborin’s cockpit

Oleh Kiper called Oborin "a true patriot of Ukraine, an Afghan war veteran, a participant in the modern fight for independence, head of the Afghan Veterans Union," and "commander of the squadron defending the skies over Odessa region and shooting down Russian Shahed drones."

What relatives and volunteers say

Polina Oborina, daughter of the fallen soldier and Odesa photographer and videographer, said her father died on Friday, July 18.

"Yes, it’s true. Unfortunately, our dad, grandfather, beloved husband, legendary warrior, living legend… is no longer with us. It happened yesterday during a mission. And yes, unfortunately, our superhero is not immortal," Polina said on Saturday, July 19.

"As much as I want to wake up today and think this is a terrible dream," she added.

Odesa volunteer Kateryna Nozhevnikova said that after turning 60 (Oborin died at 63), the colonel regularly traveled to Kyiv to renew his service permit. "Every year he went to Kyiv to get permission to continue defending the country while hundreds of thousands of young men are hiding at home," she noted.

Kostyantyn Oborin’s life and combat path

Kostyantyn Oborin was a pioneer of modern amateur aviation in Odesa.

He founded and developed the popular Odesa Aeroclub and was a parachute jump record holder.

"Kostyantyn went through the Afghan hell but did not become bitter — on the contrary, he dedicated himself to serving and supporting others. He became a symbol of rehabilitation and hope for veterans, giving new meaning through parachute sports, flying, and sincere human attention. His life philosophy — 'air heals' — became wings for many," Trukhanov wrote about Colonel Oborin.

In 2014, risking his own life, Kostyantyn rescued 29 Ukrainian soldiers from captivity. And in 2022, rising into the skies over Odesa, he fulfilled the last will of his student — Hero of Ukraine Vladyslav Buvalkin — scattering his ashes over his hometown.

 

[GBA]

I guess it would depend on what the pilot is flying, the speeds involved and the weapon being used against the drone.

A jet against a Shahed or Geran, especially at night, and in weather, would be a challenge using the cannon. Those are moving about the stall speed of the jet and about 100 knots slower than their approach speed for landing.

Getting close enough in a similar speed airplane like a Yak or Sukhoi or whatever they might be using to fire on the drone with a gun could be dangerous if you were too close when it explodes.

Flying through the debris is very hazardous to plane, pilot and crew!

A-10s, attack helicopters and close air support/attack turboprops might be good against drones. Purpose built drones seem to be working well also for slower drones.

[gleeaikin]

I was referring to the plane used in this thread, one with a propeller, and guy with shotgun sitting in an open seating area to be able to shot his gun at the drone.

[GBA]

I really don’t know what he was doing or how he was doing it or if that plane was the one he was in.

He might have died from a heart attack. Pretty gutsy, for a guy any age. Or, maybe he was hit by shrapnel from the exploding drone. Whatever happened, it was enough to kill him.

You might not think so, but fighting drones is a dangerous thing to do, whether in WWII or over Ukraine. The Ukrainians have lost several planes and pilots fighting drones, including 1 or 2 of their F-16s.

[GBA]

I’m not sure shooting down drones is quite as hard as shooting V-1 rockets…

Quite as hard as shooting down V1 rockets? … well, maybe so, if you’re shooting at one from the back of a small airplane with a shotgun, especially if you hit the wrong thing.

For example, have you ever heard of “tannerite”? It’s used to make reactive targets that explode when you hit them.

For fun, do a search for “tannerite videos” to see just how explosive small amounts of tannerite can be and how far away people are or should be when they shoot at it with rifles.

Now consider how close you have to be to shoot down a drone from the back of a small airplane with a shotgun while trying to hit a wing or the tail so that it can’t fly and then crashes.

You have to be pretty freaking close, right? … now, after having watched videos of people and fools shooting various amounts of tannerite, ponder what happens if you are that close and you accidentally hit a shahed drone’s 30–50 kilograms (66–110 lbs.) explosive payload.

BOOM! very up close and personal. Whether harder than shooting down V1s or not, it sounds like a hell of an adrenaline ride …well, other than the potential boom part, that is.

[gleeaikin]

I guess the important factor is how much explosive weight and type these Russian drones are carrying. Once they are shooting with shotguns, I would guess the farther away they shoot from the more likelihood of hitting something that explodes. I am not sure how easy it is to pinpoint a target like a wing, tail, or more likely a propeller on a drone using a shotgun. I’ve only ever shot a 22 rifle, or a revolver.