Natalia Hrabarchuk, a former kindergarten teacher turned Ukrainian air defense volunteer, successfully intercepted a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile using a Soviet-made Igla MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System). The incident was captured on video and shared widely online by the Ministry of Defence.
The video, first posted by Ukraine’s Western Air Command, shows Hrabarchuk aiming the Igla from a rooftop. After firing, she kneels as the missile connects with its target, confirmed by a distant explosion. Onlookers can be heard cheering, “Hit it, Natasha, hit it.” This marked her first combat launch after months of intensive training.
Soldier Natalia Hrabarchuk destroyed a russian missile with an Igla MANPADS during a massive Russian attack last Sunday.
This was her first combat launch, and it resulted in a direct hit. Before joining the military, Natalia worked as a kindergarten teacher.
Glory to Ukrainian… pic.twitter.com/VGxpLWWYsG
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 18, 2024
The interception occurred on November 17 during one of the largest Russian missile and drone assaults since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 120 missiles and 90 Shahed drones targeted cities across Ukraine. Ukrainian forces shot down 102 missiles and 42 drones, with electronic warfare neutralizing additional targets. Hrabarchuk’s success was one of 31 missile interceptions reported by the Western Air Command.
The Igla MANPADS, developed over 40 years ago but upgraded over time, uses an infrared homing system to track the heat emitted by low-flying targets. While the Kh-101 is a sophisticated missile designed with stealth features and advanced navigation to avoid detection, it can still emit enough heat for systems like the Igla to detect it, especially at lower altitudes.
#Russia #Ukraine 🇷🇺🇺🇦: A new photo recently posted by a #Ukrainian combatant.
He appears to be armed with a 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS, a #Spanish 🇪🇸Instalaza C90-CR-AM M3 recoilless rifle and an AK(S)-74 rifle. pic.twitter.com/ADO93uRjoo
— War Noir (@war_noir) June 1, 2022
Hrabarchuk’s target, the Kh-101, is capable of long-range precision strikes and can carry nuclear or conventional warheads.
