While some countries are holding back arms supplies to the Armed Forces, others give almost the last they have. Especially those who know from their own experience what the Russian invasion is. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Czech Republic provided Ukraine with a squadron of Mi-24D attack helicopters, probably all 7 vehicles owned by this small European country.

This is not the first time the Czech Republic has supplied weapons to Ukraine. On the eve of the invasion The Czech Republic donated 4,000 152-mm caliber shells to Ukraine. Then it became the first country to provide tanks to Ukraine. Then there were the 152mm DANA ACS and multiple rocket launchers RM-70 which are already destroying ruscists. And now helicopters.

In addition, a few weeks ago it became known that the Czech Republic and Slovakia were repairing Ukrainian armored vehicles damaged in battle and probably seized from the Russians. This is a real good neighborly relationship!

Moreover, the Czech Republic seems ready to hand over even more Soviet and Russian-made helicopters to Ukraine. The Czech Armed Forces also includes 16 Mi-171S, 10 Mi-35Ps, five Mi-17s and four Mi-8s. But this will happen if the United States accelerates the delivery of its UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters to the Czech Republic itself. Nobody wants to be completely unarmed. According to the previous contract, 8 UH-1Y Venom and 4 AH-1Z Viper helicopters will be delivered from the USA only in 2023-2024.

The Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also have their own Mi-24s. According to The Military Balance for 2021 – 35 units. But it is known that in 2014 only 15 of the Ukrainian Mi-24 could take to the air. From 2014 to 2022, the Armed Forces lost 6 helicopters, 6 more were seriously damaged, but during this time at least 16 Mi-24s were put into operation. The number of helicopters lost since February 2022 is currently unknown.

We remind that the Mi-24, known as the “Flying Tank”, is one of the most common attack helicopters in the world. A total of 2,648 cars of various modifications have been built since 1969. Mi-24 took part in almost all military conflicts of the second half of the XX and the first quarter of the XXI century. The helicopter is in service with almost 60 countries. Russia’s Air Force uses an improved version of the Mi-24 – Mi-35 and Mi-35M.

The Mi-24D, which is given to us by the Czech Republic, had separate crew cabins, a steering screw on the left and a four-barrel YakB-12.7 machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber in the turret.

Specifications
Maximum take-off weight – 12,500 kg
Empty weight – 8,400 kg
Payload – 2,400 kg
Length including rotors – 19.8 m
Length (fuselage only) – 17.5 m
Height – 6.5 m
Main rotor diameter – 17.3 m
Tail rotor diameter – 3.9 m
Maximum speed – 310 km/hour
Cruising speed – 260 km/h
Maximum flight range – 750 km
Tactical range – 160 km
Ceiling – 4,500 meters
Climb rate near the surface – 750 m/minute
Crew – 2 people
Capacity – 8 people
Armament – 12.7-mm four-barreled machine gun, anti-tank missile system, aircraft unguided missile
Fuel consumption – 800 l/hour