Zelenskyy Honors Fallen Ukrainian F-16 Pilot with Nation’s Highest Award
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posthumously awarded Colonel Maksym Ustymenko the title of “Hero of Ukraine,” the country’s highest national honor, for his exceptional bravery and sacrifice during a large-scale Russian aerial assault.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the official decree, published on the presidential website on June 29.
The document states that the honor was conferred “for personal courage and heroism demonstrated in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for selfless service to the Ukrainian people.” Ustymenko was also awarded the Order of the Golden Star.
In a public address, President Zelenskyy paid tribute to Ustymenko, describing him as a distinguished combat pilot who had served Ukraine since the early years of the war and had mastered four types of military aircraft over the course of his career.
“He achieved truly significant results for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “It is painful to lose people like him. My condolences to his family, loved ones, friends, and comrades.”
Colonel Ustymenko was killed in the early hours of June 29 while intercepting a massive Russian missile and drone barrage across several regions of Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, he successfully engaged and destroyed seven enemy aerial targets.
His F-16 sustained heavy damage during the final interception. In his last moments, he managed to steer the stricken aircraft away from a populated area, preventing civilian casualties.
The fallen pilot was a former classmate and close friend of the late Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov, a prominent Ukrainian aviator who died in a training accident in 2023.
The Ukrainian president has instructed authorities to investigate the exact circumstances of the crash. Ustymenko’s death has underscored both the extraordinary sacrifices made by Ukraine’s Air Force and the ongoing need for advanced air defense systems amid relentless Russian attacks.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on the night of 29 June, Russia attacked Ukraine with a record number of strike drones and missiles, launching a total of 537 airborne weapons across the country.