Well, Ukraine got Javelins and Stingers and distributed them like candy, maybe they give ranks like candy too?
Something related to Snake Island? A colonel flying helicopter himself?
Joke appart... maybe they lost most of their pilots already and have to use whatever troop they have left to fill the gap. They cannot give helicopters to civilians like ak-47 for sure. If they rely on their chain of command to do the dirty work, the war cannot drag for long.