A Russian anti-aircraft gunner called "Predator" shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft using the Igla anti-aircraft missile in the direction of southern Donetsk.
More specifically, in the war zone in Ukraine, this morning an alert was activated in a Russian troop group because a Ukrainian drone flew a grenade at them. Fortunately for the Russians, none of them were injured.
An anti-aircraft gunner of the Russian Marine brigade of the Pacific Fleet is in the war for the second year in a row. He was trained by "The Predator," a Russian commander of an Igla-type anti-aircraft guided missile battery (MANPADS), who trains Russians in that weapon.
"Predator" spoke to the Russian state-run Zvezda channel about the success of his fighters.
"Last time, that is yesterday, we shot down a Furia-type UAV in the direction of Ugledar. It was a modified version with an internal combustion engine. So we could detect the heat it was emitting, locate the target and hit it. Today, many UAVs and drones fly in this area. Military equipment, such as enemy aircraft and helicopters, do not pass by here because I think they are cowardly, since they know we are lurking," he said.
The Russian commander added that overflights of Ukrainian equipment were seen north of Ugledar, over Bogoyavlenka. At these heights Russian military personnel cannot hit them because of the very long distance.
The "Predator" team is said to have shot down two fighter helicopters, two UAVs and six Ukrainian aircraft. The gunners of the portable anti-aircraft missile systems, just like fighter pilots, target their airborne targets and shoot them down, including Su-25s.
Footage shows how a Ukrainian attack aircraft was destroyed by the "Predator" and burned in the field. He highlights how he shot down a drone a day earlier.
According to Zvezda, despite Ukrainian counterattack efforts in the direction of southern Donetsk, in the air Ukrainian combat vehicles are trying to stay away from the Russian defense line. The commander of the Igla battery gave more details about the situation in the direction of Ugledar.
"The situation is changing every day, we have to improve and change our tactics, change our combat units. And all this, of course, to achieve better efficiency. I don't mean replacing units, of course, just changing the types of combat support, so that we can accurately cover the Russian units," he stressed.
Zvezda adds that Russian fighters remember images and technical characteristics of Ukrainian air targets. Each of the enemy aircraft displays unique characteristics, which anti-aircraft gunners must take into account before attempting to shoot down the target.
