One of Russia's deadliest fighter aces, Kulibina flew some of the first air superiority missions of the war, engaging Eurofed Typhoons over Eastern Europe as part of Operation Anvil. Casualties among her unit, the 6977th Interceptor Squadron were high throughout the war, and Kulibina quickly found herself promoted to Flight Commander, which she held for the rest of the war. This elite unit flies advanced Su-65 Firestorm air superiority fighters, armored with deadly AA-24 Fire-and-Forget missiles.