From: Meanwhile in Ukraine 🇺🇦 Thanks to Viacheslav Radionov, the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade saved its aircraft from being destroyed by Russians.
On January 16, 1997, Ukrainian military pilot Viacheslav Radionov was born in Zaporizhzhia. His great-grandfather, grandfather and uncle were pilots. Therefore, since childhood, Viacheslav was fond of airplanes. At school, he was engaged in aircraft modeling and won Ukrainian championships in this sport.
Later, he graduated from Zakhystnyk Lyceum of enhanced military and physical training and Kharkiv National Air Force University named after Ivan Kozhedub. He received the rank of lieutenant.
After graduation, in 2019, he began serving in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of Ukraine. He took part in the military parade on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, flying over Khreshchatyk on a MiG-29 aircraft.
On February 24, 2022, the day of the large-scale Russian invasion, Viacheslav was at the controls of a fighter jet near Kyiv. His MiG-29 was the first of the brigade to take to the skies and engage three enemy aircraft. It was the young Ukrainian pilot’s first air battle, but he was not afraid of the enemy’s numerical superiority. By distracting the Russian fighters, Viacheslav allowed his comrades to get their planes into the air and thus get them out of the enemy’s range. However, during an unequal air battle with the Russians, Viacheslav’s plane was shot down…
The pilot’s body was found by local residents. He was secretly buried by veterans and fighters of Vasylkiv’s territorial defense.
A few days later, on February 28, 2022, Viacheslav was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Golden Star. He was also posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
On November 24 of the same year, Viacheslav Radionov was solemnly reburied in the Alley of Heroes of the Vasylkiv City Cemetery, next to his fallen brother pilots.
One of the streets in his native Zaporizhzhia was named after the hero pilot. A memorial to Viacheslav Radionov was unveiled in the village of Mala Soltanivka, Fastiv district, Kyiv region. He was 25 years old. 😢💙💛
Voice of Ukraine 