A female soldier shot down an enemy cruise missile with an Igla MANPADS

This morning, soldier Natalia Grabarchuk destroyed a cruise missile using the Igla MANPADS. This was its first combat launch and first hit. The Ukrainian Air Force showed the moment the enemy military missile was shot down, Censor.NET reports.

"Natalia completed a 5-month training course at the training center and mastered various types of portable anti-aircraft missile systems," the PS added.

When the enemy missile appeared in front of me, I cast aside all emotions and worries. I made hundreds of training launches on simulators, - says Natalia. - And then - the first combat one and it hit the target! The MANPADS weighs about 18 kilograms, and the responsibility also weighs heavily. I am very glad that I succeeded. After the combat work, I gave in to my emotions a little.

Natalia Grabarchuk was a preschool teacher in her civilian life. Since 2021, she has been an anti-aircraft gunner in the anti-aircraft missile unit of the Galicia-Volyn Radiotechnical Brigade of the West Air Command.