Dmytro V. Kolomiiets (Colombo)

On February 24, 2022, fighter pilot Dmytro Kolomiyets of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed in action. He was one of the first to meet the enemy and engaged in an aerial battle with Russian aircraft in Khmelnytskyi from early morning. Dmytro drew fire upon himself, which allowed his comrades to be saved. However, he was shot down by an enemy aircraft himself. The pilot consciously went to his death. For his heroic deed, the officer was posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine". Dmytro was born in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast. The choice of profession for him was obvious. His father was a military pilot, and his grandmother served in the anti-aircraft forces. Dmytro had many interests: music, kayaking, technology. But planes were always his first love. So when the young man confidently applied to the Chernihiv Flying School, no one was surprised. He stu excellently, as his father always said how important it was to be a professional in aviation. Dmytro felt more confident at the controls and quickly became a true ace. The pilot served in Zhytomyr Oblast and mastered the Su-27, MiG-29, and L-39 aircraft. "My mother's words 'Dad for Ukraine' forever divided my life into a happy 'before' and an unbearable 'after'. Dad gave his life to save others. He was a hero. He is a hero. But I don't want a hero, I want a living dad. Nothing can be returned. It's hard. How to live on?" says the daughter of the deceased serviceman, Ulyana. Dmytro left behind his daughter and wife, with whom he spent 24 years together.