A RUSSIAN helicopter has been blasted out of the sky by Ukrainian forces using a British missile for the first time.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the Mi-28N is hit by the Starstreak in the Luhansk region of eastern Ucrânia.

The Starstreak is the world’s fastest surface-to-air missile and can travel at three time the speed of sound.

Ministry of Defence sources said it’s the first time the missile has been used to bring down a Russian plane.

No vídeo, the chopper can be seen skimming the treetops before it’s hit in the tail by the Starstreak.

The missile can be seen lifting off through the trees towards its target.

The rear part of the helicopter then bursts into flames and comes of as the helicopter plummets to earth.

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.

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Defence sources who examined the video of the Russian helicopter coming down reportedly believe it was as a result of a Starstreak.

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.

The Starstreak is not a “fire and forget” system like other anti-aircraft missiles.

The darts must be laser guided to targets by an operator on the ground but this makes it difficult for the enemy to deploy counter measures.

This makes it virtually impossible for enemy aircraft to deploy counter measures such as flares to distract the missile because, unlike the US-made Stinger, it does not home in on infrared energy.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has 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, tão [Ukraine will] be looking for and getting more long-range artillery, ammunition predominantly.

‘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.”

Britain recently said it would ship another 6,000 anti-tank missiles and explosive weapons to Ukraine to help “keep the flame of freedom alive”.

Boris Johnson vowed to bolster defensive lethal aid to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces — including NLAW tank busters.

The latest shipment of weapons means Britain has more than doubled its total sent there to 10,000 just days after Ukraine warned it was fast running out.

The UK has already given 4,000 anti-tank artillery — including Next-Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons Systems, or NLAWs, and Javelin missiles.