On May 29, 2014, the Mi-8MT helicopter (board "16") of the National Guard of Ukraine was carrying out a military mission in the combat zone for the rotation of personnel and unloading food supplies at a checkpoint on Mount Karachun.
At about 12:30, when the helicopter had flown 800 meters from the checkpoint, a shot was fired from a hostile MANPADS from the forest strip. The missile hit the aircraft at an altitude of 30-40 meters. Within seconds, the Ukrainian Mi-8MT helicopter crashed - an explosion occurred, claiming the lives of 12 Ukrainian soldiers, including Major General Serhiy Kulchytsky.
The only one who managed to survive was the second pilot, Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Makeienko.
By the decree of the President of Ukraine dated June 20, 2014, No. 544/2014, for exceptional military services to the Ukrainian state, heroism, and self-sacrifice demonstrated in the defense of Ukraine's state sovereignty, Major General Serhiy Petrovych Kulchytsky was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star.
By the decree of the President of Ukraine dated June 20, 2014, No. 543/2014 "On the awarding of state awards of Ukraine," for personal courage and heroism demonstrated in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath, and indomitable spirit, the following were awarded the Order for Courage of the I degree:
- Petro Vasylovych Bezpalka (posthumously) - Senior Lieutenant of the Police, Deputy Platoon Commander
- Valentyn Vasylovych Biloshkursky (posthumously) – Warrant Officer, Machine Gun Instructor of the Fire Support Platoon of Military Unit 3028
- Serhiy Ivanovych Buldyovych (posthumously) – Colonel, Deputy Commander of Military Unit 2269 for Flight Training, Commander of the Mi-8 Crew
- Serhiy Mykolayovych Kravchenko (posthumously) – Captain, Senior Flight Engineer Instructor of the Squadron of Military Unit 2269
- Vitaliy Ivanovych Kurylovych (posthumously) – Major, Head of the Combat Training Group of Military Unit 3024
- Volodymyr Vasylovych Lysenko (posthumously) - Warrant Officer of the Police
- Viktor Volodymyrovych Lipsky (posthumously) – Warrant Officer, Machine Gun Instructor of the Fire Support Platoon of Military Unit 3028
- Petro Volodymyrovych Ostapyuk (posthumously) - Senior Police Officer
- Vasyl Vasylovych Semanyuk (posthumously) - Senior Lieutenant of the Police, Duty Inspector
- Volodymyr Bohdanovych Sharaburyak (posthumously) - Senior Warrant Officer of the Police, Squad Commander
- Viktor Petrovych Yakovyak (posthumously) - Senior Sergeant of the Police
Order for Courage of the III degree:
- Makeienko Oleksandr Mykolayovych – Captain.
Eternal memory to the Heroes!