Poland secretly handed over Mi-24s to Ukraine

9 July, 2023 Polish Mi-24. Photo credits: Jakob Ratz/Pacific Press Poland has recently secretly transferred Mi-24 attack helicopters to Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reported on this with reference to its sources. It is noted that the transfer of helicopters was not officially announced. WSJ sources noted that this regards about a dozen of Mi-24 attack helicopters.

Previously, a video from Poland featuring trucks transporting attack helicopters was released on social media. It is known from open sources that by 2012, Poland had about 32 Mi-24V and Mi-24D helicopters.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Czech Republic would also transfer decommissioned Mi-24/35 to Ukraine.

Mi-24V and Mi-24D

Mi-24V is the most widely produced version of the Mi-24 attack helicopter, armed with a USPU-24 machine gun mount. In V-version, it is equipped with a Yak-B 12.7 machine gun. Between 1976 and 1986, about 1000 helocopters were produced.

The helicopter can be armed with Sturm-V ATGM, S-8, S-13, and S-24B unguided rockets. Mi-24D is a modification that was equipped with a new tandem cabin with isolated sections for the pilot and navigator. Falanga-PV ATGM was integrated on it.

Mi-24D.

Photo credits: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum

Mi-24D.

Photo credits: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum

Between 1973 and 1977, more than 600 such helicopters were produced.