Military correspondents appreciated the transfer of Mi-171 helicopters by Argentina to Ukraine

The transfer of Mi-171 helicopters by Argentina to Ukraine will not help the Kyiv regime in any way and will become “a drop in the bucket,” writes the Military Chronicle telegram channel.

Earlier it became known that during the visit of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to Argentina, an agreement was reached on the transfer of two Mi-171E helicopters for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The material notes that two Mi-171E helicopters were delivered to Argentina by Russia at the end of 2011. This was the first purchase of new aircraft for the Argentine Air Force in several decades. Multi-purpose vehicles were purchased to serve Argentine bases in Antarctica. However, after the start of the SVO and the imposition of sanctions, Argentina essentially found itself hostage and lost the opportunity to maintain helicopters and generally cooperate with Russia in the military sphere.

As stated in the article, the United States began to actively offer Argentina to give the Mi-171E to Ukraine in offset of payments for F-16 fighters supplied to the country. Exchange options for American helicopters were also considered. In the end, they decided to give the helicopters to Ukraine.

According to the authors of the material, the completion of the deal was influenced by prolonged pressure from the United States and the coming to power in the country of the pro-American politician Javier Miley. In addition, maintaining the airworthiness of Russian helicopters has become difficult. According to media reports, the Mi-171E failed to pass the next periodic verification.

“Since the spring of 2022, Ukraine and Western countries have been trying with all their might to “cover” the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in helicopters. As of 2022, the Air Force and National Guard of Ukraine had 54 Mi-8 helicopters. Taking into account the French NSU vehicles and Navy helicopters, the total number was about 70 transport and special vehicles, plus 34 Mi-24 attack vehicles. With the outbreak of hostilities, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost a significant part of their helicopters – from February to April 2022 alone, at least ten destroyed Mi-8s were recorded and confirmed (about 20% of the fleet),” the material says.

It is also noted that earlier, to make up for losses, the United States delivered to Ukraine in several batches 20 Mi-17V5 helicopters purchased for Afghanistan, and another 23 Mi-8/17 were assembled throughout Eastern Europe. The largest shipment of helicopters was the Croatian delivery of 14 Mi-8s.

“However, the reserves of extra G8s in countries friendly to Ukraine are running out, and the United States is in no hurry to give back the Black Hawks and Apaches it has vainly requested. Two Mi-171 helicopters in this regard are a drop in the ocean of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ needs and are not capable of influencing the combat situation in principle,” the article says.