In the spring of 2014, the Donetsk region found itself at the epicenter of turbulent events: for the first time, Russia—having shed its mask as a friendly neighbor—began seizing Ukrainian territory using pro-Russian mercenaries and, later, its regular army. Numerous settlements found themselves under occupation. As early as May, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with volunteer battalions, began liberating settlements in the region. Today, it is important to preserve the memory of the Heroes who bravely stood up to defend Ukraine from the very first days of the war and who paid—and continue to pay—an exorbitant price for our freedom.
On May 2, Donetsk Oblast honors the memory of the servicemen who died defending Ukraine in the early days of the War for Ukraine’s Independence.
On this day in 2014, MI-24P helicopters (tail numbers “40 Yellow” and “09 Yellow”) from the 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under the command of Major Plokhodko and Major Rudenko, were carrying out a combat mission to provide air patrols in the area of Sloviansk.
Around 3 a.m., the “09 Yellow” helicopter was shot down by missiles fired by terrorists from a man-portable surface-to-air missile system. The helicopter crashed on the outskirts of the village of Karpivka in the Sloviansk district, and ammunition began to explode inside it. Major Serhiy Rudenko and Senior Lieutenant Ihor Hryshyn were killed; Captain Yevhen Krasnokutskyi, who was wounded, was taken prisoner (he was released on May 5 of that year).
The “40 Yellow” helicopter, commanded by Ruslan Plokhodko, flew to Sloviansk on a rescue mission. The commander and his crew were tasked with locating the pilot of the downed helicopter, who, according to available information, had managed to survive. However, their helicopter was also shot down by Russian mercenaries using MANPADS. Along with the commander, crew members of the MI-24P (“40 Yellow”)—Major Oleksandr Sabada and Captain Mykola Topchii—were killed.
For personal courage and heroism displayed in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 543/2014 dated June 20, 2014, the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class, was posthumously awarded to:
- Captain Igor Ivanovich Grishin;
- Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Borysovych Sabada;
- Major Mykola Mykolayovych Topchiy.
- By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 631/2014 dated August 2, 2014, the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 1st Class, was awarded to:
- Major Yevhen Oleksiyovych Krasnokutskyi;
- Lieutenant Colonel Serhiy Serhiyovych Rudenko (posthumously);
- Lieutenant Colonel Ruslan Volodymyrovych Plokhodko (posthumously).
No less tragic events unfolded that day on the bridge across the Sukhyi Torets River on the southern outskirts of Sloviansk. Near the village of Andriivka, a group of pro-Russian mercenaries blocked a convoy of the 1st Battalion of the 95th Separate Zhytomyr Airborne Assault Brigade. The command did not dare to clear the road by force. The convoy stood on the road and waited. During negotiations, Russian mercenaries opened fire on Ukrainian soldiers, using a crowd of civilians as cover.
Soldier Petro Kovalenko was killed by a grenade fired from an underbarrel grenade launcher, and Senior Reserve Soldier Serhiy Panasyuk was killed by a sniper’s bullet;
seven more paratroopers were wounded.
By decree of the President of Ukraine dated July 19, 2014, “For personal courage and heroism displayed in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Petro Kovalenko and Serhiy Panasyuk were posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd Class.