Ukrainian Servicewomen Shoots Down Russian Cruise Missile With Soviet MANPAD

Ukrainian soldier Natalia Hrabarchuk carried out her first combat launch, on the morning of November 17, amidst a large-scale air assault on Ukraine, successfully intercepting and destroying a Russian cruise missile using 9K38 Igla.

This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Natalia completed a five-month training course at a training center, mastering various types of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).

"When the enemy missile appeared before me, I pushed aside all emotions and nerves. I had done hundreds of training launches on simulators," Hrabarchuk shares. "But this was my first combat launch—and it hit the target! MANPADS weighs about 18 kilograms, and there’s also the weight of responsibility. I’m very happy I succeeded. It was only after the mission that I allowed myself to feel the emotions. Our mobile fire team includes women soldiers, and we give our all to achieve results, putting in maximum effort."

In civilian life, Natalia Hrabarchuk worked as a preschool teacher. Since 2021, she has served as an anti-aircraft gunner in the air defense missile unit of the Halychyna-Volynska Radio Engineering Brigade, part of the "Zahid" Air Command.

In the early hours of November 17, Russia conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine, employing drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic weapons. Energy facilities across several regions were targeted, resulting in civilian casualties and significant infrastructure damage.