Vladyslav Savieliev

Ukrainian fighter pilot
  • Ukrainian Air Force
    • 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade
Years of service2014–2023RankMajorBattles/warsRusso-Ukrainian WarAwardsOrder of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III classAlma materIvan Kozhedub National Air Force University

Vladyslav Mykhailovych Savieliev (Ukrainian: Владислав Михайлович Савєльєв, (August 14, 1996 — 2 June 2023, near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast) was a Ukrainian military pilot of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major, a participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war, who died during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Early life and education

He was born on August 14, 1996 in the city of Kropyvnytskyi in a family of military personnel. He graduated from gymnasium No. 9 [uk] in Kropyvnytskyi and then studied at the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University, graduating with honors in 2019.[1]

Military career and death

Savieliev participated in the Joint Forces Operation in eastern Ukraine.

For two years, Savieliev took a basic flight training course on a T-6A Texan II turboprop trainer at Columbus Air Force Base.[2][3]

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he was a fighter pilot with the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade. On the morning of 2 June 2023, together with Andrii Pilshchykov (Juice), he and two MiG-29s made a successful combat sortie in the east, launching HARM missiles. Savieliev flew another combat mission in the evening and successfully launched JDAM guided bombs that hit their targets. However, in the area of Pokrovsk (Donetsk Oblast), his plane was deadly hit by enemy air defense forces.[3]

He is survived by his daughter, wife and parents.[4]

Legacy

On 7 June 2023, memorial ceremony for Vladyslav Savieliev has been held on the Alley of Honorary Military Burials in Kropyvnytskyi, where he was then buried.[1][5]

On 15 August 2023, Air Force Command shared on Facebook details on Savieliev's last flight story and photos of piano burning ceremony of a piano painted with Savieliev's call sign and a number "12" (tail number of his MiG-29).[6][3]

  • Piano burning

Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Загинув військовий льотчик, випускник ХНУПСа". 2day.kh.ua. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  2. ^ Politico. U.S.-trained Ukrainian pilot who died in combat had been eager to get back into the fight
  3. ^ a b c Олехнович, Анастасія (16 August 2023). ""Більше F-16 — менше спалених фортепіано"" [«More F-16 — less burned fortepiano»]. armyinform.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Під час виконання бойового завдання загинув пілот винищувача Владислав Савєльєв (NOMAD)". censor.net. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  5. ^ "Залишився назавжди в небі: в Кропивницькому попрощалися з 26-річним пілотом (ФОТО)" [Stayed forever in the sky: in Kropyvnytskyi said goodbye to a 26-year-old pilot (PHOTO)]. dostyp.com.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  6. ^ Олехнович, Анастасія (15 August 2023). "БІЛЬШЕ ✈️F-16 – МЕНШЕ 🔥 СПАЛЕНИХ ФОРТЕПІАНО…" [MORE ✈️F-16 – LESS 🔥 BURNED FORTEPIANO…]. Air Force Command of UA Armed Forces (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Facebook.
  7. ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from 4 August 2023 year № 471/2023 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)