Andrii V. Bakun

Major Andriy Bakun was killed on March 12, 2024, at an offensive airfield near the village of Novopavlivka in the Donetsk region. During the reloading of a helicopter for the next combat mission, a Russian missile hit the site. The officer was killed from shrapnel wounds. In April, he would have turned 27 years old. Andriy was born in the village of Monastyrok, Lviv region. From childhood, he dreamed of becoming a pilot. After the 9th grade, he studied at the Lviv Military Lyceum named after the Heroes of Kruty. He then entered the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National University of the Air Force, where he was remembered as an exemplary cadet. After graduation, his flying career continued in Novyi Kalyniv and in his beloved 12th separate army aviation brigade named after General-Chorunjy Viktor Pavlenko. As part of his unit, he participated in the Joint Forces Operation and then in the full-scale war. During the Great War, the officer held the position of senior pilot of a helicopter squadron. He repeatedly carried out combat missions, striking enemy military targets. He had 218 combat sorties. His combat flight time exceeded 200 hours. For exemplary service, Andriy Bakun was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree and the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the III degree (posthumously). "Andriy was a modern knight of the spirit, a brave warrior, a consistent Christian, a man of honor and unconditional love, perfect in everything. The best husband and father. He was an undoubted example for those around him. An immeasurable loss for his family and Ukraine," said the officer's wife Anastasia. The hero was buried in his native village. Andriy is survived by his parents, brother, wife, and son.