Two Ukrainian Gunship helicopters shot down by MANPADS in Eastern Ukraine

Two Ukrainian Armed Forces Mi-24 helicopters shot down in Donetsk Oblst.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, two Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters were shot down by “unknown persons by means of man-portable air defense system (PZRK)” overnight into May 2.

As a result two servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed forces died and several were injured.

Furthermore, one Mi-8 Hip helicopter of Army Aviation, Ukrainian Armed Forces, was damaged by small arms fire.

Whilst four persons were arrested for the downing, it is clear that MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) are going to be a factor against poorly equipped (and trained?) Ukrainian gunships. Maybe it’s time for Kiev to dispatch some more survivable Su-25 Frogfoot jets.

Here below an image showing the Mi-8 hit by small arms fire:

Image credit: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

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About David Cenciotti

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.