Major of the Ukrainian Air Force, military pilot Andrii Borysovych Pilshchykov, known to the public by his call sign “Juice,” was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

The relevant official Presidential Decree No. 658/2024 was published on the President’s website.

The decree is dated September 30, 2024.

The text of the decree:

“For personal courage and heroism displayed in the defense of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I hereby decree:

To award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order “Golden Star” to Andrii Borysovych Pilshchykov, Major (posthumously).

President of Ukraine V. ZELENSKY

Major Andrii Pilshchykov died on August 25, 2023, in the Zhytomyr region due to a collision between two L-39 combat trainer aircraft. The pilots of these aircraft were Andrii Pilshchykov, Major Viacheslav Minka, and Major Serhii Prokazin.

At the time of the plane crash, Andrii had 500 hours of flight time and performed combat missions in extremely difficult conditions, which translated into the largest number of launches in the brigade and probably in Ukraine of JDAM and HARM anti-radar missiles.

You can learn more about him in our article “Born for the sky: Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov obituary.”