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 29, 2014, near Sloviansk, a Mi-8MT “Flight 16” helicopter of the National Guard of Ukraine was shot down; Major General Serhiy Kulchytskyi was on board.
That day, the major general had once again visited the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Mount Karachun, delivering provisions to them and conducting a troop rotation.
On the return trip, a few hundred meters from the takeoff site, the helicopter was fired upon from a forest strip and shot down by Russian terrorists using a MANPADS. The crew of “Flight 16” fought to the last, attempting to make an emergency landing, but their efforts, unfortunately, were in vain. The fuel tanks exploded upon impact.
The crash claimed the lives of six servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine and six officers of the special police company of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The only survivor was the co-pilot, Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Makeyenko.
The downing of the Mi-8MT “Flight 16” helicopter was the first incident in the history of Ukraine’s War of Independence involving the mass death of the aircraft’s crew and passengers. At the same time, Serhiy Kulchytskyi became the first Ukrainian general to die in the War for Ukraine’s Independence.
Serhiy Kulchytskyi became a landmark figure in the history of modern Ukraine thanks to his role in forming the first volunteer battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine.
From the start of the War for Ukraine’s Independence, he personally took charge of training fighters from among the Maidan Self-Defense activists. Under his leadership, these volunteers—many of whom had no military experience—transformed into a combat-ready force. Kulchytskyi not only trained the fighters but also lived alongside them in the field, sharing their rations and sometimes even cooking for them himself.
The general’s goal was not only to teach the fighters how to fight but also to save their lives. Under his command, the battalion took part in combat operations in the Donetsk region, particularly in the Sloviansk area, where fierce battles were taking place as part of the Anti-Terrorist Operation.
The soldiers respected Kulchytsky not merely as a commander, but as a true brother-in-arms. He did not hide in headquarters but went alongside the soldiers to the hottest spots. This was the case on May 29, 2014…
By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 544/2014 dated June 20, 2014, for exceptional military service to the Ukrainian state, heroism, and self-sacrifice demonstrated in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty, Major General Serhiy Kulchytskyi was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine along with the Order of the Golden Star.
By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 543/2014 of June 20, 2014, “On Awarding State Decorations of Ukraine,” for personal courage and heroism demonstrated in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, loyalty to the military oath, and unbreakable spirit, the following were awarded the Order “For Courage” First Class:
- Petro Bezpalka (posthumously) – Senior Lieutenant of the Militia, Deputy Platoon Commander;
- Valentin Biloshkursky (posthumously) – Warrant Officer, Machine Gun Instructor in the Fire Support Platoon of Military Unit 3028;
- Serhiy Buldovych (posthumously) – colonel, deputy commander of military unit 2269 for flight training, crew commander of the Mi-8MT;
- Serhiy Kravchenko (posthumously) – captain, senior flight engineer-instructor of the squadron of military unit 2269;
- Vitaliy Kurylovych (posthumously) – Major, head of the combat training group of Military Unit 3024;
- Volodymyr Lysenchuk (posthumously) – Police Warrant Officer;
- Viktor Lipsky (posthumously) – ensign, machine gun instructor in the fire support platoon of Military Unit 3028;
- Petro Ostapiuk (posthumously) – police sergeant;
- Vasyl Semanyuk (posthumously) – senior lieutenant of the police, duty inspector;
- Volodymyr Sharaburyak (posthumously) – senior police warrant officer, squad commander;
- Viktor Yakovyak (posthumously) – senior police sergeant.
With the Order “For Courage” III degree:
- Oleksandr Makeyenko – captain.