Fallen Pilot’s Wife Petitions for Hero Title: He Defended Our Skies 

By Yusuf İnan | Wise News Press

KYIV, UKRAINE — Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian families have been forced to navigate the agonizing path of grief while simultaneously fighting for the historical memory of their loved ones. Kateryna Horban, the widow of Captain Vladyslav Horban, has launched a public petition asking President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to posthumously award the title of "Hero of Ukraine" to her husband, a helicopter pilot who sacrificed his life defending the Mykolaiv region during the war’s most critical early days.

The story of Vladyslav Horban is not just a military report of a fallen officer; it is a narrative of a young family torn apart by aggression, a three-year-old son still waiting for his father to return, and a pilot whose skills helped hold the line against overwhelming odds.

A life dedicated to the sky

Born in the settlement of Kyrykivka in the Sumy region, Vladyslav Horban’s life was intertwined with the military from a young age. He was born on his mother’s 20th birthday, a detail his family always cherished. His path to the cockpit began immediately after the ninth grade when he enrolled in the State Lyceum with Enhanced Military-Physical Training, known as the I.G. Kharitonenko Cadet Corps.

Determined to master the skies, he continued his education at the prestigious Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University in Kharkiv, specializing in army aviation. It was a career choice that required not only technical skill but profound courage.

After graduation, Vladyslav married Kateryna. The young couple moved to Poltava, where Vladyslav began his service as the commander of a helicopter flight within a helicopter squadron of the 18th Separate Army Aviation Brigade, named after Igor Sikorsky. He became an expert pilot of the Mi-8, a workhorse helicopter used for both transport and combat operations.

Before the full-scale invasion, Vladyslav was already a battle-hardened veteran. He had executed numerous missions in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in eastern Ukraine, defending the nation’s sovereignty long before the tanks crossed the borders in February 2022.

The shadow of invasion

The weeks leading up to February 24, 2022, were filled with tension for military families across Ukraine. Vladyslav, known for his calm demeanor and responsibility, tried to shield his wife from the gathering storm.

"I didn't prepare for war; Vladyslav always calmed me down so I wouldn't worry," Kateryna recalls in an exclusive interview. "But when our military learned about the enemy's plans—first the invasion was planned for February 16, then February 20—they prepared thoroughly. They were on duty there day and night."

By February 20, the signs became undeniable. Vladyslav was informed of a ban on leaving Poltava. Kateryna sensed a shift in the atmosphere, realizing that war was no longer a possibility, but an inevitability. "I knew he would fight, and it became terrifying for me," she says.

The dreaded call came at 4:00 AM on February 24. "It has started, first readiness," the voice on the phone said.

Vladyslav began packing his things immediately. The farewell was brief but heavy with unspoken fear. "He kissed me and left. I felt something was wrong, as if he was kissing me for the last time," Kateryna shares.

Defense of the southern front

From the very first hours of the invasion, Captain Horban was in the air. The Russian offensive was multi-pronged, and Ukrainian aviation faced a numerically superior enemy. Despite the risks, Vladyslav flew sorties to protect Ukrainian skies and support ground troops. For his bravery during these initial days, he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III degree.

During his service, he maintained a protective silence with his family. He never burdened Kateryna with the details of the harrowing dogfights or the close calls near the front lines. His messages were always meant to soothe her and their young son.

"I told him: 'I'm afraid we will lose each other.' He answered: 'Don't worry, my love, everything will be fine,'" Kateryna remembers.

The tragedy over Mykolaiv

On March 6, 2022, the battle for southern Ukraine was raging. Russian forces were pushing hard in the Mykolaiv region, attempting to break through to Odesa. It was on this day that Captain Vladyslav Horban flew his final mission.

According to reports, Russian occupiers shot down two helicopters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Mykolaiv region that day. Six servicemen were killed in the incident, including Captain Horban. He was weeks away from his 28th birthday.

The loss was catastrophic for his family. "People haven't invented words that can convey the pain that tears the heart apart. I would give everything I have for him to return to us and our son alive," Kateryna says.

Vladyslav was buried in the Central Cemetery of his native settlement, Kyrykivka, in the Sumy region. Posthumously, he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, II degree, recognizing his sacrifice.

A son waits and a widow writes

The human cost of the war is most visible in the children left behind. Vladyslav and Kateryna’s son was only three years old when his father was killed. Now four, the child still struggles to understand the permanence of the loss.

"The child is still waiting for daddy at home," Kateryna says, noting that their son bears a striking resemblance to his father.

In her grief, Kateryna turned to poetry. On the day she learned of his death, she wrote verses to process the shock:

Days pass, nights pass, And your eyes are already closed. You are not with us forever, But I still remember Those bright days, boundless happiness, When the family was together. Now for you — another world, And how are we in this world without you?

The petition for recognition

Ten months after his death, Kateryna decided to take action to ensure her husband's sacrifice was permanently etched in history. She created a petition asking the President to confer the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Vladyslav.

While the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky is a high honor, the title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the Order of the Gold Star is the highest state award, reserved for those who have performed outstanding heroic deeds.

"I hoped that my husband would be given this award," Kateryna explains. "After all, he was a patriot of Ukraine since childhood. Vladyslav wanted to connect his life with military aviation, conscientiously followed all orders, and was in the ATO zone. Even when the full-scale war began, he was one of the first defenders of our sky. He fought to the last."

Kateryna believes that all defenders currently holding back the aggression deserve the highest recognition because of the immense difficulty of their work. However, for her, this petition is personal—it is a final act of love for a husband who dreamed of a large family and friendly companies, but who gave up that future to secure the future of his nation.

"He was the best for me in every sense of the word and will remain so forever in my heart," she concludes.

The petition represents a growing movement among the families of fallen soldiers who are striving to ensure that the individual stories of heroism are not lost amidst the staggering statistics of the war. As the conflict continues, the legacy of pilots like Vladyslav Horban serves as a reminder of the price paid for the defense of the state.

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