A Mi-17 helicopter belonging to the military council, which had made an emergency landing at Infantry Battalion 56 in Shwegu Township, Kachin State, was completely destroyed after being targeted by artillery fire from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), according to KIA military sources. The attack occurred around 2 PM on May 21, led by forces from KIA’s Brigade 11. The artillery strike also damaged two armored vehicles and two trucks that had been positioned around the helicopter for protection.
According to KIA military sources, the helicopter had been forced to make an emergency landing at Infantry Battalion 56 the previous day due to damage to its main gear system, rendering it unable to fly. KIA Brigade 11 forces launched a precise artillery attack using four shells, all of which hit their target, resulting in the complete destruction of the helicopter. This helicopter was the same one that had been forced to make an emergency landing following an initial KIA attack the day before.
Additionally, on the previous day, the KIA had successfully shot down another Mi-17 helicopter, which crashed in the forest west of Sinyan village in Moelhe sub-township of Shwegu Township. KIA Battalion 5 troops confirmed locating the wreckage of the crashed helicopter and the bodies of those who perished in the crash. These incidents are part of the ongoing conflict between the KIA and military council forces in Kachin State, demonstrating the KIA’s effective capability to counter the military council’s air power.
