Oleksandr P. Brynzhala

Olexandr Prynzhala was born on November 14, 1974, in the city of Okhtyrka, Sumy region. He studied at Okhtyrka Secondary School No. 5, which he graduated from in 1991. After school, he graduated from the Kharkiv National University of the Air Force named after Ivan Kozhedub. He served in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Command "Center" of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a fighter pilot of the MiG-29 aircraft and held the position of chief of flight safety service. He participated in operations in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO). He trained cadets. On the night of March 1 to 2, 2022, a pair of Ukrainian MiG-29s, one of which was piloted by Olexandr Prynzhala, intercepted 12 Russian fighters near Kyiv. Major Prynzhala shot down two enemy aircraft, after which he was shot down and did not manage to eject. For personal courage and heroism displayed in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and loyalty to the military oath, Olexandr Prynzhala was posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the Order of the "Golden Star."