Eduard Mykolaiovych Vahorovskyi (Ukrainian: Едуард Миколайович Вагоровський; 26 February 1965 – 24 February 2022) was a Ukrainian military officer (Lieutenant Colonel). He was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine (2022, posthumously).
Eduard Vahorovskyi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Eduard Mykolaiovych Vahorovskyi 26 February 1965 Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 24 February 2022 (aged 56) Ozerne, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
Branch | Soviet Air Forces Ukrainian Air Force |
Service years | 1983—1991 (VVS) 1991–2003, 2014–2022 (PS ZSU) |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Conflicts | |
| Awards | Order of the Gold Star (posthumously) |
| Alma mater | Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots and Navigators |
Biography
editEduard Vahorovskyi was born on 26 February 1965, in the city of Rubizhne, which was then part of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union.[1]
From childhood, he dreamed of becoming a military serviceman. After finishing school, he enrolled in the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots and Navigators. After completing his studies, he spent a year in the Orenburg Oblast, where he served in a training regiment. Following that, he was stationed in the village of Ozerne in the Zhytomyr Oblast. At the age of 38, he retired from active duty with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and settled in Zhytomyr where he worked at the enterprise "EKTA-PROM".[1] However, when the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine began in 2014, he returned to service.[2] Upon returning to service, he was stationed with the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, which is based out of Ozerne Air Base, where he worked as an instructor pilot.[1]
On 24 February 2022, he sacrificed his life while leading the Ukrainian military aviation away from a missile strike, allowing others to take to the skies.[3][4]
He was laid to rest on 28 February 2022, in Ozerne, Zhytomyr Oblast.[5]
Awards
editHe was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Gold Star (28 February 2022) "for his personal courage and heroism demonstrated in the defense of Ukraine's state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and his loyalty to the military oath."[6]
References
edit- 1 2 3 Муха, В. С. (12 December 2022). "Вагоровський Едуард Миколайович". Енциклопедія Сучасної України (in Ukrainian). Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ ""Він був яскравий, як комета!" 56-річний льотчик загинув, виводячи українську авіацію з-під ракетного удару - Життєві історії | Expres.online". 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ↑ "Зло, озброєне ракетами, бомбами й артилерією, треба зупинити негайно – звернення Президента України — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України". 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ↑ "Зеленський нагородив званням Героя України 12 українських воїнів. Шістьох героїв – посмертно — Forbes.ua". 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ↑ "В Озерному на Житомирщині поховали військовослужбовців – новини на УНН | 28 лютого 2022, 22:50". 9 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ↑ Decree of the President of Ukraine from 28 лютого 2022 year № 78/2022 «Про присвоєння звання Герой України» (in Ukrainian)