Ukrainian Hero Details 'Aircraft Graveyard': How His Unit Downed 22 Enemy Planes

Vladimir Mishchenko and His MANPADS Unit

According to Главком: Ukrainian Hero Vladimir Mishchenko has detailed the operations of his man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) unit, which achieved significant success against enemy aircraft. Under his command, the unit destroyed 22 planes and 2 helicopters during a period of intense combat. Mishchenko explained that their work focused on employing shoulder-fired systems like the 'Stinger', 'Igla', and 'Strela', which are designed specifically to engage aerial targets.

The Unit's Achievements

According to Mishchenko, the unit eliminated 11 aerial targets in the Avdiivka area. 'We shot them down using portable anti-aircraft missile systems. These are the ones you fire from the shoulder – 'Stinger' or 'Igla', 'Strela' – they work exclusively against aerial targets like missiles and aircraft,' he clarified.

He also stressed that the downing of an aircraft is confirmed only when there is video footage or other evidence of its crash.

The period of intense Russian aircraft losses on the Pokrovsk direction lasted from May to September 2024. Vladimir Mishchenko shared memories of how the unit, including his comrades Valera 'Krosa', Taras Dubyna, and Oleksandr with the call sign 'Yasha', operated in this zone. 'The 'aircraft graveyard', or 'SU graveyard', was from May to September 2024 on the Pokrovsk direction. Each of us took down several Su aircraft. That's how we named that area – the Pokrovsk Triangle. It's like the 'Bermuda Triangle' – an enemy fighter flies in there and disappears,' Mishchenko noted.

He also recounted the difficulties the soldiers faced while waiting for a successful shot. 'There were times when we waited for a week or a week and a half for our successful shot,' he said. Vladimir Mishchenko emphasized the critical importance of changing position immediately after launching a missile due to the risk of a retaliatory strike: 'If you fire a shot, you cannot operate from that same location anytime soon, because something will 'come flying in'.

This account highlights not only the military accomplishments of the unit but also the resilience and professionalism of Ukrainian soldiers in the fight against the aggressor. The successful work of Mishchenko's unit underscores the importance of modern portable technology in warfare, as well as the necessity of adapting to the conditions of a protracted conflict. The requirement for video confirmation of downed aircraft also points to the growing significance of the information domain in modern warfare. These MANPADS systems, often supplied by Western allies, have proven crucial in denying Russian forces air superiority over the front lines.

As the Ukrainian forces successfully target enemy aircraft, another unit has demonstrated its capabilities in the ongoing conflict. Recently, a Ukrainian drone battalion took decisive action by destroying a critical Russian river crossing in the Sloviansk sector, showcasing the effectiveness of various military tactics being employed in the region. This highlights the coordinated efforts of Ukrainian units in countering enemy operations across multiple fronts.