National Guards tell how they destroyed Russian helicopter with Igla MANPADS

On 26 January, Kharkiv-based National Guardsmen destroyed a Russian Mi-24 helicopter with a man-portable air-defence system [MANPADS] on the Bakhmut front.

Source: Press service of National Guard of Ukraine

Details: The chief of air defence service of the 3rd Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine stated that on 26 January at 10:40, a Ukrainian fire group of the anti-aircraft missile and artillery division detected two aerial targets on the south-eastern outskirts of Bakhmut. 

Two missile launches at Russian Mi-24 helicopters were carried out with 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS. One helicopter was shot down, and the other was damaged. 

Quote from National Guard gunner: "This helicopter can fly at low altitudes, allowing them to approach our units undetected in this terrain. 

It can manoeuvre, targeting our forces and the most important positions using its missile and artillery arsenal. That is why detection and destruction of such targets are highly effective during combined arms combat."

Reference: The Mi-24 is a Soviet multiple-purpose attack helicopter and support for infantry. It is one of the fastest attack helicopters in the world, designated to transfer and support manpower on the contact line. 

Reminder: According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since the beginning of the full-scale war on 24 February 2022 till 27 January 2023, Russian forces have lost 282 helicopters in Ukraine. 

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