Ukrainian military pilot Oleksandr Borys killed in action near Marinka

By Yusuf İnan | Wise News Press

KYIV, UKRAINE — Oleksandr Borys, a 27-year-old military pilot serving in the 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade, was killed on March 15, 2022, while conducting a combat mission near Marinka in the Donetsk region.

Captain Borys was piloting a helicopter that successfully destroyed 15 units of enemy equipment and neutralized approximately 30 Russian soldiers before being struck and downed by an enemy missile.

A lifelong passion for the sky

Born in the town of Nizhyn in the Chernihiv region, Oleksandr Borys attended Nizhyn Gymnasium No. 3 before continuing his education at the Chernihiv Lyceum with Enhanced Military and Physical Training. He had a deep passion for football from a young age, traveling to various competitions both in Ukraine and abroad, but his ultimate dream was always to fly. He fulfilled that dream in 2016 upon graduating from the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University.

After graduation, the young lieutenant was assigned to the 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade and moved to the Kherson region. Initially serving as a pilot-navigator, Borys later earned the rank of captain and became a helicopter commander. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Badge of the Security Service of Ukraine in 2017.

From peacekeeper to defending the homeland

In 2019, Oleksandr Borys was deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a year as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. He received several accolades for his service there, including the commemorative "Warrior-Peacekeeper" badge.

The officer was also a veteran of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO). In January 2022, he embarked on another deployment to the Donbas region. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine the following month, Captain Borys continued to defend his country from the very first days of the conflict.

Before his death, Borys was nominated for the Order of King Danylo. The presidential decree for this award was signed on March 16, just one day after he fell in battle. Posthumously, the officer was promoted to the rank of major and awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class.

On September 29, 2023, the military pilot was posthumously awarded the highest national honor, the title of Hero of Ukraine, along with the Order of the "Golden Star". Oleksandr Borys was laid to rest in his hometown of Nizhyn. He is survived by his parents, sister, and girlfriend.

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