40th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)

40th Tactical Aviation Brigade

Active	1992 – present
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Ukrainian Air Force
Type	Brigade
Role	Fighter
Part of	Air Command "Central"
Garrison/HQ	Vasylkiv Air Base, Ukraine
Nickname(s)	Ghost of Kyiv
Engagements	War in Donbass Battle of Debaltseve 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Kyiv (2022) Snake Island campaign
Decorations	For Courage and Bravery
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Volodymyr Kravchenko
Insignia
Air Force Sleeve patch Left Arm
Roundel
Fin flash
Aviation branch insignia collar
Aircraft flown
Fighter	MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29M1
Trainer	L39M1

Military unit

The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Military Unit Number А1789) is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Force, composed primarily of Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft, that is based at Vasylkiv.^[1]

History

In January 1992 the regiment took the oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people.

Upon the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade played an important role in the Kyiv offensive. Its fighter aircraft battled the Russian Air Force over Kyiv and attempted to disrupt Russian advances on the ground. The unit took part in the Battle of Antonov Airport and the Battle of Kyiv; one of its pilots, Lt. Col. Vyacheslav Yerko (posthumously Hero of Ukraine, Gold Star Order), reportedly shot down four Russian aircraft on the invasion's first day before being killed.^[2]

Aircraft

Pilots who lost their lives

References

^ "Air Force - Ukraine".
^ David Axe (9 December 2022). "Five Brave Ukrainian MiG Pilots Blunted the Russian Attack on Kyiv on Day One of the War. Not All of Them Survived". Forbes. Retrieved 14 May 2023.