Maksym Ustymenko
Maksym Ustymenko | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Максим Устименко |
| Birth name | Максим Юрійович Устименко |
| Born | 1993 |
| Died | (aged 31) |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Air Force |
| Years of service | ?–2025 |
| Rank | Pidpolkovnyk |
| Battles / wars | Russo-Ukrainian War † |
| Awards |  Order of the Gold StarOrder of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd class |
| Alma mater |  Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University |
Maksym Yuriiovych Ustymenko (Ukrainian: Максим Юрійович Устименко; 1993 – 29 June 2025) was a Ukrainian fighter pilot with the rank of pidpolkovnyk in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant of the Russo-Ukrainian war, during which he was killed in 2025. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.[1]
Biography
[edit]Born in 1993,[2] he was a classmate of the fallen pilot and Hero of Ukraine Andrii Pilshchykov.[3]
On the night of 29 June 2025, Ustymenko fought off a massive Russian attack in an F-16 fighter jet; he managed to destroy seven air targets. While practicing on the last target the plane was damaged; the pilot took the plane away from the settlement, but did not have time to eject.[4]
Awards
[edit]- Titled Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (29 June 2025, posthumously)[1]
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd class (28 February 2022)[5]
Military ranks
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Decree of the President of Ukraine from 29 червня 2025 year № 444/2025 «Про присвоєння М.Устименку звання Герой України» (in Ukrainian)
- ^ Онісімова, Вікторія (2025-06-29). "Відбиваючи атаку РФ, на літаку F-16 загинув льотчик Максим Устименко". novynarnia.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ Богданьок, Олена (2025-06-29). "Вночі, відбиваючи повітряну атаку РФ, загинув пілот на літаку F-16". suspilne.media (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ "При відбитті російської атаки загинув льотчик F-16 Максим Устименко". РБК-Україна (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ a b Decree of the President of Ukraine from 28 лютого 2022 year № 79/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
Categories:
- 1993 births
- 2025 deaths
- Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents
- Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University alumni
- Recipients of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd class
- Recipients of the Order of Gold Star (Ukraine)
- Ukrainian military aviators
- Ukrainian military personnel killed in the Russo-Ukrainian War
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2025