The Air Force of Ukraine has disclosed the names of three pilots killed in the skies over the Zhytomyr region.

The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade posted a message on its Facebook page.

On August 25, the crews of two L-39 combat trainer aircraft collided in mid-air while performing a combat mission.

The circumstances of the crash are being investigated. The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting the pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings.

“During the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, each of them was involved in air operations to protect Ukraine, including tactical tasks in the Eastern and Zaporizhzhia directions,” the statement reads.

Major Viacheslav MINKA, a resident of the Kyiv region, is among the dead. He returned to aviation in 2015 when Russia attacked Ukraine.

By the time of the start of the full-scale invasion, he had over 200 hours of flight time. He was an experienced pilot of the brigade, technically well-trained. He was familiar with various types of aircraft and devoted a significant part of his service to instructing.

Major Serhii Prokazin was a resident of the Poltava region. He spent 24 years of his life in aviation, working his way up from pilot to deputy brigade commander.

Since 2022, he has flown over 100 hours of combat missions. His comrades-in-arms recall his extraordinary smile, sincerity, and ability to help in difficult situations.

Captain Andrii PILSHCHYKOV, a native of Kharkiv, call sign “JUICE,” devoted 8 years of his life to aviation. Since the start of the full-scale war, he has logged over 500 hours of flight time, including during combat missions in difficult conditions.

He received a number of state and departmental awards. He was courageous, principled, uncompromising, always defended his own opinion to the end, and actively advocated in the Western media, in particular on the issue of providing Ukraine with modern F-16 fighter jets.

“We express our sincere condolences to the families of the fallen pilots. The bright memory of the defenders of Ukraine’s skies will forever remain in the hearts of their loved ones, comrades-in-arms, and the grateful Ukrainian people,” the Brigade concluded.

The Air Force Command expressed condolences to the relatives of the fallen pilots.