A former kindergarten teacher shot down a missile in the Lviv region.

A surface-to-air missile operator from the Galician-Volhynian Radio Engineering Brigade of the Air Command "West," Natalia Hrabarchuk, successfully shot down a cruise missile using a MANPADS "Igla." This was her first combat launch, resulting in her first hit. Before 2021, she worked as a kindergarten teacher.

According to the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the morning of November 17, during a massive Russian attack on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, Natalia Hrabarchuk was ensuring air defense while operating the MANPADS "Igla." During her first combat launch, she managed to hit the cruise missile on her very first attempt.

Natalia Hrabarchuk underwent a 5-month training course at a training center, mastering various types of portable surface-to-air missile systems.

“When the enemy missile was in front of me, I set aside all emotions and anxiety. I had done hundreds of training launches on simulators. And here it was – my first combat mission, and I hit the target. The MANPADS weighs about 18 kilograms, and the responsibility is heavy. I’m very glad I succeeded. After the combat operation, I let my emotions flow a bit,” Natalia Hrabarchuk shared.

In civilian life, she was a kindergarten teacher. Since 2021, she has been serving as a surface-to-air missile operator in the Galician-Volhynian Radio Engineering Brigade of the Air Command "West," based in Lviv region.

It is worth noting that in the Lviv region, missile debris damaged garages and a car. As a result of the debris falling in Dobrotvori, a 66-year-old woman died, and three men were injured.