Zelenskyy awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to the deceased F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko

This was announced on the official website of the President of Ukraine.

"For personal courage and heroism shown in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I decree to award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the ’Golden Star’ to Maksym Ustymenko - Colonel (posthumously)," - the decree states.

It should be noted that last night Russia massively attacked Ukraine using drones and missiles. There were more than 500 aerial targets.

Pilot Maksym Ustymenko directly participated in repelling this attack. He utilized the full set of onboard weapons and shot down 7 aerial targets. During the last mission, his aircraft was damaged and began losing altitude.

It is known that the pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from a populated area but did not have time to eject, resulting in his death.

"Unfortunately, we have suffered another painful loss. Last night, while repelling a massive air attack by the enemy, 1st-class pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, born in 1993, died in an F-16 aircraft," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.