A RUSSIAN helicopter has been blasted out of the sky by Ukrainian forces using a British missile.
Dramatic footage shows the moment the Mi-28N is hit by the Starstreak in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
The Starstreak is the world’s fastest surface-to-air missile and can travel at three time the speed of sound.
The Ministry of Defence said it’s the first time the missile has been used to bring down a Russian plane.
In the video, the chopper can be seen skimming the treetops before it’s hit in the tail by the Starstreak.
The rear part of the helicopter then bursts into flames and it can then be seen plummeting to earth.
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Other footage shows the aircraft wreckage strewn across a road as it’s inspected by Ukrainian troops.
The two crew on board the helicopter were reported to have survived being shot down though it’s unclear if they were captured by the Ukrainians.
Britain announced on March 9 that it was supplying the high velocity portable missiles to the Ukrainians.
The Belfast-made missiles can be shoulder-mounted or attached to a vehicle and each missile one splits into three darts to puncture armour before warheads detonate.
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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace previously said the Starstreak system was ready to be used imminently.
The UK has already sent thousands of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine and has agreed to send more after a conference held by military donors to the country.
He told last night told Sky News: “There will be more lethal aid going into Ukraine.
“Ukraine needs longer-range artillery and that's because of what the Russian army has been doing, which is now digging in and starting to pound these cities with artillery.
“The best counter to that is other long-range artillery, so [Ukraine will] be looking for and getting more long-range artillery, ammunition predominantly.
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'They are also looking for armoured vehicles of some types — not tanks necessarily, but certainly protective vehicles, and more anti-air [weapons].
“All of this will be forthcoming as a result of this conference.”
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