Ex-preschool teacher shoots down her first Russian missile during aerial attack on Ukraine

A former kindergarten teacher turned soldier Nataliia Hrabarchuk successfully destroyed a Russian cruise missile using an Igla portable surface-to-air missile system during a large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine on Nov. 17. 

This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.

“This was her first combat launch, and her first successful hit!” the statement read.

Hrabarchuk had completed five months of military training during which she mastered various types of portable missile systems, also known as MANPADS. 

“When the enemy missile appeared in front of me, I pushed aside all emotions and nerves. I had practiced hundreds of launches on simulators, but this was my first real combat shot – and it hit the target!” she said. “The MANPADS weigh about 18 kilograms, and the responsibility is just as heavy. I’m really glad I succeeded.”

In civilian life, Nataliia was a kindergarten teacher, but since 2021, she has served as a surface-to-air missile shooter in the anti-aircraft unit of the Halytsko-Volynska Radio Technical Brigade of the Air Command Zakhid (West). 

After the mission, Hrabarchuk said, “In our mobile fire group, there are women soldiers. We’re putting in everything we’ve got to achieve our goals – giving it our all.”

Russia had launched a massive attack on Ukraine, using strike drones, cruise missiles, and aeroballistic missiles. The enemy deployed seven Tu-160 strategic bombers, 16 Tu-95MS bombers, two Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, five Su-34 fighter-bombers, four Su-27 fighters, ten MiG-31K fighters, and four ships carrying cruise missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Ukrainian air defense forces managed to down 144 aerial targets, including 102 missiles and 42 drones. Air defense systems were active in nearly every region of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Volyn, and Lviv.

Projectiles struck energy facilities, residential buildings, and vehicles. There were casualties and injuries, and power and water supplies were disrupted in several areas.

“Today marked one of the largest and most dangerous Russian attacks in the entire war,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Two-hundred-ten drones and missiles launched simultaneously – including hypersonic and aeroballistic ones. Fortunately, most of the targets were intercepted. Russia aimed for energy and critical infrastructure. And this is the answer to all those who wanted to achieve something with Putin through conversations, phone calls, hugs – appeasement.”

In the evening, Russia also targeted Sumy with missiles, hitting a multi-story building. Eleven people were killed, including two children. Eighty-four people were injured, including 11 children. Another 11 people, including six children, are in intensive care, according to the Sumy regional military administration.