North Macedonia sends helicopter reinforcements to Ukraine
In 2023, North Macedonia announced the transfer of 12 Mi-24 helicopters to Ukraine, a gesture that was forgotten for some time. However, now, according to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express, a photo has surfaced online confirming that Macedonia followed through, and the helicopters are already in service in Ukraine.
More than 1.5 years have passed since the transfer announcement until their first public appearance. This delay is understandable, considering the condition of the Mi-24 fleet in North Macedonia at the beginning of 2023. At that time, the army had only two Mi-24Vs in service, four in storage, and the last six were used solely as "spare parts donors." Therefore, Macedonia transferred all the Mi-24s in its military arsenal to Ukraine.
They gave 12 helicopters to Ukraine
Defense Express notes that evidence of the delivery of helicopters from Macedonia to Ukraine has finally appeared online. The evidence is a photo of Ukrainian army pilots, with a Mi-24 in the background, painted in the camouflage distinctive to the North Macedonian armed forces. This confirms it is one of the helicopters announced for transfer in 2023. There were a total of 12 helicopters, with 10 being Mi-24V variants and two as Mi-24K reconnaissance versions.
The Ukrainian army could immediately deploy two operational helicopters from Macedonia; several others could have been refurbished using available parts, while the rest likely served as a source of spare parts. The Ukrainian army rarely discloses details about its equipment, as evidenced in May 2024 when a rare Mi-24WP with a 23-mm cannon was revealed.
Besides the Mi-24s, North Macedonia also transferred other significant military equipment to Ukraine. These included four Su-25 attack aircraft and 31 T-72 tanks, which were also in storage.
Mi-24 helicopters for Ukraine
Let us recall that the Mi-24 helicopters, due to their robust armor and significant firepower, are often referred to as "devil's chariots," a name first given by Afghans. The Mi-24 combat helicopter, considered a heavyweight machine of its type, was produced between 1970 and 1989.
It can reach speeds exceeding 186 mph and features a heavily armored fuselage, protecting the crew against fire from bullets up to 0.5 inches in caliber. Additionally, components of the propulsion system are also armored. The takeoff weight of the Mi-24 helicopter can be up to 25,353 pounds.
