Stepan I. Chobanu

On February 28, 2022, Major Stepan Chobanu, aged 58, killed in action in the sky above Kropyvnytskyi. He was the first to take off in his Su-27 and engage the enemy, drawing enemy aircraft fire towards himself. Russian invaders shot down his plane with missiles. Thanks to the officer's actions, other Ukrainian pilots were able to move their planes out of harm's way and relocate them. For his heroic deed, Major Stepan Chobanu was posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine." Stepan Chobanu was born in the village of Dolynske in Odesa region. After finishing school, he decided to enroll in the Izmail TSAAF and completed a course to become a truck driver. He served his mandatory military service in the army. Later, he enrolled in the Chernihiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. After graduating, he flew MiG-23 planes. In 1990, he underwent retraining on the Su-27 and transferred to the fighter aviation regiment. On L-39, MiG-23, and Su-27 aircraft, Stepan Chobanu logged over 1,100 flight hours and earned the qualification of "1st Class Military Pilot." He participated in numerous exercises and military equipment tests and took part in three military parades in honor of Ukraine's Independence Day, flying over Khreschatyk in 1996, 2001, and 2008. In 2010, Stepan Ivanovych retired, but returned to service in the Ukrainian army after five years. As one of the most experienced pilots in the Ukrainian Air Force, he regularly performed combat duty as part of the air defense forces. He served in the 821st Tactical Aviation Brigade and held the position of Head of Air-Fire and Tactical Training. The hero was laid to rest with full honors at the military cemetery in Myrhorod, Poltava region. Stepan Ivanovych is survived by his wife and two sons.