Oleksandr M. Maryniak (Maryk)

Olexandr Myroslavovych Maryniak was born on October 3, 1979, in the city of Brody, Lviv region. In 2000, he graduated from the Kharkiv National University of Air Force named after Ivan Kozhedub and participated in peacekeeping operations in Congo and Liberia. Since 2014, he has been carrying out tasks in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation. In the fall of 2021, he retired from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and joined the aviation of the National Police of Ukraine, starting to fly the "Eurocopter EC145" helicopter. After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he returned to the brigade and resumed piloting his Mi-24 helicopter. He served in the 16th Army Aviation Brigade "Brody" of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Due to his determination during the defense of the Kyiv region, a large number of Russian soldiers, fuel tankers, and enemy equipment were destroyed. On March 8, 2022, the Russians shot down a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter in the area of the village of Kulažynci in Kyiv region, resulting in the death of Colonel Olexandr Maryniak. He was buried in the city of Brody, Lviv region.