Su-25 (illustrative photo)
The Ukrainian military has repeatedly proved that they can shoot down Russian aircraft even with Soviet-style weapons. Some even succeed twice.
The Russian occupiers decided to actively use aviation in their offensive in the Zaporozhye region. However, our soldiers inflict losses on the Russian army in all directions and are ready for any changes in the operational situation.
Two planes per month
It was in the Zaporozhye region that a National Guardsman shot down a Russian Su-25 Grach attack aircraft in one of the mission areas. It happened on May 23.
The peculiarity of this case is that this soldier shot down a Russian plane for the second time this month, which inflicts significant losses on the Russian occupying army.
According to the National Guard of Ukraine, this is a military serviceman. And he shot down a Russian military plane using the Igla portable anti-aircraft missile system, developed back in Soviet times.
How Ukrainians shoot down Russian planes with Igla
The case in Zaporozhye is not the first during the war that Russia started, when Ukrainian defenders shoot down enemy aircraft with the Needle. The most famous case is when, in early March, a mobilized worker of Ukrposhta, Sergei Chizhikov, thanks to this MANPADS, shot down an enemy Su-35. The cost of such an aircraft is from 40 to 65 million dollars (depending on modification). And the Igla MANPADS costs from 40 to 60 thousand dollars.
Another Russian plane with the Igla MANPADS was shot down by senior sailor Dmitry Tomilov. He shot down an enemy Su-34. For courage and heroism, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmitry Reznikov awarded the serviceman with a personalized firearm.
Russian aircraft downed
Russia actively used aviation in the war against Ukraine, believing that they managed to reduce the Ukrainian air defense system defense. But it was not so. And during the war, as of May 24, the Ukrainian military shot down 205 enemy aircraft. 170 Russian military helicopters were also destroyed
Ukrainian fighters are also actively destroying Russian operational-tactical drones. It is thanks to them that the occupiers reconnoiter the territory and correct artillery fire. There are already 480 such drones destroyed.
The air defense forces also shoot down cruise missiles that the enemy fires at Ukrainian cities. During the war, at least 112 enemy missiles were shot down.
