Two Ukrainian Mi-24s shot down by MANPADS

Two Ukrainian Mi-24 'Hind' combat helicopters were shot down in eastern Ukraine on 2 May.
Both helicopters were shot down by man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS), while an Mil Mi-8 'Hip' transport aircraft sustained damage from ground fire. All of the helicopters were attacked overnight close to Slavyansk in the troubled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Two crew members from the Mi-24s were killed in the incidents, with several more wounded. The pilot of one of the Mi-24s is understood to be badly wounded and to have been captured by pro-Russian forces.
Ukraine has a fleet of about 60 Mi-24 helicopters in service.
Although little information is available on the MANPADS used, they are likely to have been an Igla, either the earlier 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-16 'Gimlet'), or the later 9K38 Igla (SA-18 'Grouse').
Unless equipped with modern defensive aid suites, helicopters are highly vulnerable to MANPADS due to their normally low flight altitude and comparatively low speed.
janes