Serhii Ya. Khomik

Serhii Yaroslavovych Khomik was born in 1986 in the village of Susval, Volodymyrskyi district, Volyn region. In 2008, after graduating from the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University, he served as a helicopter navigator in the search and rescue unit of a helicopter squadron. He participated in a UN peacekeeping mission in Africa. During the Russian-Ukrainian war, the officer carried out about 1,000 combat missions (ATO/JFO - about 800; in 2022 - almost 250). Colonel Khomik's crew conducted successful combat missions, and under his leadership, over 20 pilots mastered their combat skills. He was the commander of the helicopter squadron. On November 11, 2022, in the Donetsk region, two Mi-8 aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took off to destroy Russian occupiers. The flight was routine, and the lead helicopter under the command of Colonel Serhii Khomik approached the target area. Suddenly, there was a flash. The aircraft made a sharp maneuver to the left. For a few more seconds, the commander made superhuman efforts to keep the burning helicopter in the air. Moments later, the main aircraft "met the ground" in the area of the village of Berestove in the Donetsk region. Serhii Khomik sacrificed his own life to save his comrades. He was buried on November 17, 2022, in his native village. He is survived by his parents, wife, and two children.