The full-scale war has placed Ukrainian businesses under extraordinary pressure. For the aviation sector, this has meant more than the loss of access to infrastructure — it has brought a complete shutdown of the domestic market, forced relocation, adaptation to new realities, and the challenge of maintaining world-class standards on the international stage.
Despite security threats, disrupted logistics, broken production chains, and numerous operational hurdles, Ukrainian airlines continue to operate — sustaining the country’s economy and contributing to its defense. One notable example is the aviation group led by Roman Mileshko — a Ukrainian entrepreneur, crisis manager, third-generation military aviator, and honorary aircraft builder of Ukraine. His group includes "Aircompany Constanta," the world’s largest operator of Antonov An-26 aircraft.
In this exclusive interview for UNN, Roman Mileshko shares his perspective on running an aviation business during wartime — the setbacks and successes, staffing challenges, reputational risks, securing UN contracts, and supporting Ukraine’s military efforts.
How did your companies respond to the full-scale invasion? What was their condition at the time, and how did the war affect their operations?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine caught our companies in the midst of a large-scale technical transformation. At our base at Zaporizhzhia Airport, we were conducting comprehensive modernization of three MI-8MTV helicopters and two An-26 aircraft, along with maintenance work on several additional airframes.
Overall, all the companies in our group were in a phase of establishment and growth by the time the war began. For example, although "Aircompany Constanta" was originally founded in 1998, by the time we acquired it in 2017 it was on the verge of bankruptcy. It had not conducted active flight operations for several years, and its infrastructure was in a state of disrepair.
Over several years, we invested in developing the airline’s technical base and fleet, focusing on Antonov aircraft — designed and manufactured in Ukraine. By February 2022, the company’s fleet included ten An-26 aircraft, and the number of employees had increased tenfold, exceeding 200 people. As our clients began requiring aircraft with greater range and payload capacity, "Aircompany Constanta" began integrating Antonov An-74 aircraft into its fleet. These were highly capital-intensive projects. We applied for financing from Ukrainian banks multiple times, but they showed no interest in supporting the Ukrainian aviation industry. Nevertheless, we always believed in Ukraine’s potential, and all these projects were carried out using internal resources from our group of companies.
The same applies to "H3 Operations." This airline was established in late 2020. "H3 Operations" operates MI-8MTV helicopters and began flight operations in 2021 — the COVID year. The MI-8MTV is a unique helicopter with no direct global competition. It was produced in the USSR on Russian territory, but it is equipped with Ukrainian engines manufactured by "Motor Sich." Since 2014, Ukrainian enterprises have done extensive work to organize domestic production and replace Russian components. We believed in the possibility of fully localizing MI-8MTV operations in Ukraine and joined the national industry’s efforts. By early 2022, we were cooperating with a number of other aviation enterprises to establish repair and production of all MI-8MTV components in Ukraine, with the long-term goal of moving toward the design and production of a Ukrainian heavy multi-purpose helicopter.
What did you have to change to keep your operations going?
With the onset of the full-scale war, our top priority became the continued operation of our fleet. We lost access to our technical base at Zaporizhzhia Airport and had to rebuild everything from the ground up outside of Ukraine.
In general, our work has always been carried out under conditions of heightened complexity and risk. These skills proved invaluable in 2022. Today, we operate at two bases where we conduct maintenance and technical work on aircraft — one in Slovakia and the other in South Sudan.
Our primary client is the United Nations. We operate under long-term contracts with them that were signed before the war began. Since then, the cost of operations and administrative expenses have increased significantly due to the relocation of most of our activities from Zaporizhzhia.
In 2023, "Aircompany Constanta" entered a new segment of medium-haul cargo transportation using a Boeing 737-300. We are currently establishing our presence in this market and hope to secure a niche.
Our group’s airline "XENA" is the only commercial operator in the world using the Ukrainian-designed and manufactured An-32P firefighting aircraft, and the only commercial operator of this aircraft category in Europe. This new direction has attracted considerable international interest in Ukrainian aviation technology.
It is also crucial that we continue working on replacing Russian components. At present, together with our partners, we have reached the stage of certifying several key components. Despite these challenges, we have not let our clients down and continue to represent Ukrainian aviation with dignity on the international stage.
Under your leadership, "Aircompany Constanta" modernized its An-26/An-74 fleet and became one of the leading operators of Ukrainian aircraft for humanitarian missions. How do international partners evaluate your aircraft in these operations?
Our company operates in the field of international humanitarian aviation logistics and is the largest operator in the world of Ukrainian-built aircraft. Our fleet offers a number of advantages highly valued by clients — such as the ability to land on unpaved runways, and convenient loading and unloading through a rear cargo ramp — a feature absent in most other aircraft. We can also carry passengers and cargo simultaneously.
Conducting flights as part of humanitarian programs presents challenges for any airline. The quality standards are extremely high, and operations must often be carried out in difficult climatic and geographical conditions, with consideration for multicultural environments. In addition, we must comply with the requirements of both our national aviation regulator — the State Aviation Service of Ukraine — and the International Civil Aviation Organization. International organizations and government agencies also impose strict regulations and demand the highest levels of flight safety, pilot professionalism, and operational experience from contractors. It is an extremely demanding segment. Globally, only about a dozen companies actively operate in this niche — and "Aircompany Constanta" is one of them.
We are proud to hold accredited UN carrier status, which we obtained back in 2017. Our high standards are confirmed by key international certifications, including EASA TCO, UK TCO, and US FAA, allowing us to operate in the global aviation market.
"Aircompany Constanta" also plays a significant role in Ukraine’s national economy, having paid over 76 million UAH in taxes over the past four years. In 2024, our Supervisory Board was joined by retired U.S. Army Major General David L. Grange. Company's board members also include Jamie Anderson, a logistics expert with extensive service in the British Army, and Jan Spörgen, a former officer of the Swedish Armed Forces, entrepreneur, and security specialist — all of which underscores the company’s international recognition
Ukrainian aviation companies operating abroad have recently succeeded in significantly displacing Russian operators from the UN aviation services market. Your companies are among those that filled this niche. How was this achieved, and how easy or difficult was it to secure such contracts?
Ukrainian companies — ours included — have consistently demonstrated the highest quality of service and compliance with the most stringent criteria throughout their operations. We had already established long-term cooperation with international organizations by the time the war began. However, the decision by international organizations to cease cooperation with Russia was the turning point that reshaped the market.
Securing contracts with the United Nations and other international institutions is an extremely complex, multi-stage process. It requires passing rigorous accreditation procedures and meeting strict technical and safety standards — which are continuously being raised. Our companies invested heavily in fleet modernization, staff training, and safety protocol enhancements to meet these demanding requirements. It was precisely due to years of preparatory work that, when the opportunity arose to expand our presence in the market, we were fully ready to seize it.
The displacement of Russian companies is not only the result of political decisions, but also of genuine competitive performance — where Ukrainian air carriers have proven their efficiency, flexibility, and reliability. Our flight crews have unique experience operating in challenging conditions, while our technical personnel provide flawless aircraft maintenance. Even in the difficult circumstances of war, Ukrainian airlines continue to strengthen their positions in the international aviation services market, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and competitiveness. This level would be impossible to maintain without the team.
How many specialists currently work in your companies? Are you facing the shortage of qualified personnel that is affecting the Ukrainian aviation sector as a whole?
Our group of companies currently employs more than 500 people — including technical staff, administrative personnel, and pilots. At present, we have enough qualified professionals to support all areas of our operations. Our team is a true aviation family that has been built over the years. We value every employee and continue our work despite all the challenges — not least to preserve jobs and provide people with meaningful work. I’ve known many of my colleagues since my military service, and we’ve worked side by side for years.
However, as a strategic and complex business, we must take a long-term view and plan carefully for the future. We are already thinking about challenges in aviation education and the potential shortage of skilled personnel. Our specialists regularly undergo training and retraining to meet the highest professional standards. With support from "Aircompany Constanta," we have established and equipped innovative educational clubs in aviation modeling and robotics for children, featuring state-of-the-art practical training facilities. One of our major achievements has been the development of a universal flight simulator for pilots of various aircraft types. We have also opened — and plan to expand — our own training center for specialists within our group of companies.
There have been comparisons between the salaries at one of your companies and those at other carriers, particularly SkyUp. How would you respond to this?
Comparing salaries at "Aircompany Constanta" with those at "SkyUp" is inappropriate given the fundamentally different financial conditions and business models under which these companies operate.
"Aircompany Constanta" is currently functioning under extremely difficult wartime conditions. The company operates only three aircraft under UN contracts — and even those are on relatively modest terms that do not fully cover current operating expenses. A similar situation exists across other companies in the group. "H3Operations" and "XENA" are both young companies still in the development stage and require significant investment.
Losing access to our technical base at Zaporizhzhia Airport — while still bearing the costs of maintaining that infrastructure (utilities, land tax, hangar and apron rentals) — has also had a major impact on the company’s financial performance. To continue operations, we had to establish new bases abroad, resulting in substantial additional expenses for logistics, business travel, and the rental of facilities and specialized maintenance equipment.
It’s also worth noting that the company has effectively been unable to operate two An-74 aircraft for the past three years. We invested over 50 million UAH in bringing this aircraft type into service — aircraft that are in demand by the UN and could have significantly improved profitability and, consequently, enabled higher salaries and overall financial sustainability. If those aircraft were operational, wage levels could be considerably higher. Instead, they remain idle, while the company continues to bear the cost of their maintenance and related staffing.
Despite these difficulties, the company does everything possible to support its employees: crew members receive additional allowances for travel, and all staff continue to receive salaries even when not flying. Many of our specialists work across two or three companies within the group, which enables them to earn higher combined wages. This model helps us ensure decent compensation for our professionals within the financial constraints of each individual company. For certain categories of employees, we also provide additional financial support for housing.
Importantly, company leadership continually reviews our compensation policies, actively seeking opportunities to raise wages in line with available financial resources. We understand how critical competitive pay is for attracting and retaining qualified specialists, so we regularly monitor the market and adjust salaries when circumstances allow.
Under these conditions, comparisons with other airlines that operate under entirely different business models and environments are simply not valid. Our priority is to preserve the company, maintain jobs, and continue functioning despite wartime challenges — while steadily working to improve the financial well-being of our team.
There have also been allegations regarding your ties to Russian entities, sanctioned companies, improper execution of state contracts, and the use of Russian-origin components in aircraft. How do you respond to this information?
All the activities of our group of companies — and my own actions personally — have always been aimed at strengthening and developing an independent Ukraine. While serving in the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters, I was one of the officers actively working toward NATO integration and deepening cooperation with the United States and our other allies. After my discharge in 2007, I worked in several international companies and convinced my partners to launch aviation ventures and invest in Ukraine.
We have never used any state resources — and yet we have established three new airlines in Ukraine and created several hundred jobs. Our aviation companies have initiated comprehensive modernization programs for MI-8MTV helicopters and Antonov aircraft (An-26, An-32, An-28, An-74). The primary objective of each of these modernization efforts was to replace Soviet and Russian components with modern Ukrainian or Western alternatives. In the case of the MI-8MTV, we also developed Ukrainian technical documentation for life-extension programs.
Several unique Ukrainian companies — relying solely on their own funding, intellectual property, and technological capabilities — have tackled the strategic task of developing and certifying operational documentation for MI-8 and MI-8MTV aircraft through Ukraine’s State Aviation Service. Ukraine remains the only country to have created a complete support system for aircraft originally designed in the Soviet Union on Russian territory.
Since the start of the war, our technical partner — the R&D company "MS AVIA-GRADE" — has successfully applied these developments to support aircraft repair and equipment installation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Meanwhile, due to international sanctions and decisions by the International Civil Aviation Organization, Russia has been pushed out of most of its traditional aviation markets — markets it is now eager to regain. To undermine the development of Ukraine’s aviation industry and block the growing presence of Ukrainian carriers in global markets, Russian intelligence services launched a campaign to discredit our work. They’ve been doing this for quite some time, using their agents to spread targeted disinformation. This so-called "information" is nothing more than manipulation and outright slander.
Attempts to discredit our group began in late 2022. All of the so-called "facts" have already been the subject of multiple inspections and audits, none of which revealed any material violations. Having failed to achieve their objectives through administrative pressure, Russia’s agents turned to public defamation — aiming to damage the reputation of our companies, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the country as a whole, while distracting attention from other operations carried out by those same actors.
Your group previously included "MS AVIA-GRADE," but you officially stepped down from its management in 2023. However, some media outlets continue to associate you with the company. What is your current relationship with MS AVIA-GRADE?
In 2023, I formally exited the company and currently have no affiliation with the enterprise. "H3 Operations," where I am the owner, continues to cooperate with "MS AVIA-GRADE" as a trusted engineering partner. Since the start of the war, the R&D company "MS AVIA-GRADE" has been successfully and efficiently performing repairs and installing equipment required by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The results of this work demonstrate not only the company’s capabilities but also the overall level of Ukrainian specialists. The complexity of some of the implemented technical solutions is now on par with leading international standards — further confirming the high engineering and technological potential of Ukraine’s aviation sector.
In light of all this, how is the Ukrainian aviation brand perceived abroad today? Which international markets do you see as the most promising, and why is it important for Ukraine to maintain its presence there — especially during wartime?
It’s important to emphasize that global interest in the Antonov family of aircraft remains strong. Recently, our group of companies participated in an airshow in Piešťany, Slovakia. Over the course of two days, the event attracted more than 50,000 visitors from across the country and abroad. A great deal of attention from spectators, experts, and the media was focused specifically on the Antonov aircraft on display. Our An-32P firefighting aircraft performed a demonstration drop of 8,000 liters of water at a speed of 250 km/h — a unique capability that continues to capture global attention.
Ukrainian aviation retains strategic significance on the global stage. We are one of the few countries capable of supporting a full aircraft manufacturing cycle — a major competitive advantage. The growing share of Ukrainian companies in the UN aviation services market reflects the high level of trust placed in Ukrainian aviation.
As for promising markets, we see tremendous potential in continuing and expanding cooperation with the United Nations and other international humanitarian organizations. Specialized aviation services, such as aerial firefighting, also offer great opportunities — our company "XENA" is already operating successfully in Turkey, has prior experience in Georgia, and plans to expand into new regions.
Maintaining a foothold in international markets is critically important for Ukraine, especially during wartime, for several reasons. First, the aviation sector supports tens of thousands of highly skilled jobs. Second, it generates substantial tax revenues — tens of millions of hryvnias annually. Third, it preserves the country’s technological potential and strengthens our ability to integrate into global aviation alliances once the war is over.
Today, Ukraine has a unique window of opportunity to solidify its position in the global aviation market. We are working actively to seize that opportunity and further strengthen the presence of Ukrainian aviation on the world stage.
The work of Ukrainian aviation during wartime has taken on profound symbolic meaning. Every aircraft bearing a Ukrainian registration that takes off abroad is more than just a means of transportation — it is a symbol of our resilience, a testament to the fact that Ukraine’s dream of technological leadership is alive and will be realized after victory.
What missions does Ukrainian civil aviation perform abroad, and how does this work differ from operations within Ukraine?
The nature of operations abroad differs significantly from those in Ukraine. Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace, there is currently no passenger aviation or civilian cargo transportation within the country — the sector is focused exclusively on defense-related tasks. In contrast, Ukrainian operators abroad are engaged in complex international logistics missions.
Ukrainian airlines have achieved considerable success globally, particularly in the field of humanitarian aviation logistics. Key international missions carried out by Ukrainian civil aviation include humanitarian transportation for international organizations and governments, support for peacekeeping missions, medical evacuations from remote areas, as well as maintenance and repair of aircraft for foreign operators.
Unlike in Ukraine — where access to aviation infrastructure is limited due to ongoing hostilities — abroad, our companies operate within well-developed international aviation systems. While security risks are high in Ukraine, the main challenges overseas relate to difficult climatic and geographic conditions.
The war in Ukraine has severely restricted technical maintenance capabilities at home, while international operations demand that our companies consistently meet the highest global standards.
Ukrainian airlines have earned international recognition thanks to their professionalism, adaptability, and ability to operate under extreme conditions. Our operators have unique experience in utilizing specialized aviation equipment — a major advantage that benefits not only individual companies but also the country as a whole.
Ukrainian aircraft play a humanitarian role abroad, but inside the country they contribute directly to victory. What role do you see for business in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and how is your group contributing to national defense?
Supporting our defenders is not just the responsibility of the state — it’s a duty shared by all of society. We have supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the very first days of the war. Military units often approach us with urgent requests, and we always respond quickly. Since 2022, our group of companies has provided tens of millions of hryvnias in aid to the Ukrainian military. In addition, we regularly offer engineering and technical assistance and donate aircraft parts and materials from our own reserves.
The work our companies are doing — entirely at our own expense — to replace Russian-made components is also critically important for Ukraine’s defense and security. The MI-8MTV and MI-24 helicopters remain the backbone of the Armed Forces’ rotorcraft fleet, with hundreds in active service. Ukrainian forces will also continue operating Antonov aircraft in the years ahead.
I don’t believe this is something we need to publicize extensively. Supporting the military during wartime is not a badge of honor — it is a fundamental obligation. Contributing what we can to strengthening national defense is an investment in our shared future. And whether through business operations that generate taxes and employment, or direct military support, we and our teams fulfill this duty every single day.
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