Helicopter pilot Viacheslav Voronyi did not hesitate to help downed board behind front line. No one else did that anymore

Author: Violetta Kirtoka

The army aviation officer was among the few helicopter crews that broke through to "Azovstal" in Mariupol and delivered the necessary supplies there, taking away the seriously wounded. Most of the helicopter pilots who carried out this mission were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Viacheslav Voronyi is still not honoured posthumously ...

I would like to ask for advice. Below is the story of a Hero of this war who died saving others. His comrades-in-arms believe that he deserves to be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and have repeatedly petitioned for this by submitting applications. However, the issue has not yet been resolved.

This helicopter pilot should have been awarded the highest state title even for the fact of his successful flight to Mariupol. At that time, most helicopter pilots who flew for "AzovStal" were awarded the title of Heroes. But this pilot, after flying to Mariupol, tried to save a downed aircraft behind the front line. He knew where he was flying, but he didn't even question whether it was worth it. It was worth it. Because he had to help his own people.

The helicopter pilot's comrades hoped that justice would prevail during the first official celebration of the Army Aviation Day, which this year was finally celebrated on 3 July. Look at it this way: every day of a particular branch of the armed forces, as a rule, decrees are issued on awarding the title of Hero of Ukraine and other state awards. This is how the holiday is given weight and significance. However, it seems that the army aviation is a stepdaughter in this family. And this is a long-standing "tradition". Until 2022, not a single helicopter pilot has been awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, either during his lifetime or posthumously... Last year, when the army aviation celebrated 30 years since its establishment in independent Ukraine, a decree on the official celebration of this day was not signed. The official document was issued only six months later. And this year, before the first day of the celebration of the Day of Army Aviation, not a single helicopter pilot was awarded state awards... And the whole country knows that these guys and girls not only performed miracles in the Ukrainian sky, burning columns of enemy vehicles on the ground, and made impossible flights to the besieged AzovStal, but every night they confront shaheds, shooting them down by the dozens ...

That is why I want to hear the opinions of those who are reading this text: do you think that the story of this helicopter pilot should be left unnoticed? That it is enough that his family will be awarded the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Order posthumously, even though it was applied for and should have been awarded during his lifetime? It seems to me that this is not enough.

"VORONYI TOOK 16 WOUNDED FROM 'AZOVSTAL'"

At the time of his missing in action in 2022, Colonel Viacheslav Olehovych Voronyi was the head of the training group at the 57th Air Base of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He had a long career in the army. He served from 1 August 1987 to 30 December 2008, after which he worked for a civilian airline. On 25 February 2022, Colonel Voronyi returned to duty. The country needed his experience, as he had a total of 5,700 hours flying Mi-8 helicopters. This is a great experience for a military pilot.

From 7 March to 5 April 2022, Viacheslav Olehovych took an active part in repelling the armed aggression of the russian federation as part of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. He carried out 12 combat flights as a helicopter crew commander to destroy enemy ground targets, evacuate the wounded, transport ammunition and drop off special forces.

On 15 March 2022, while performing an air support mission as part of a pair of Mi-8 helicopters near the village of Stepne, Vuhledar urban community, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region, Colonel Voronyi's crew carried out a fire strike on enemy positions. As a result, two APCs and manpower of the Russian army were destroyed.

On 28 March 2022, a group of Mi-8 helicopters of the consolidated helicopter detachment of the Army Aviation "North" under the leadership of Colonel Voronyi transported three tonnes of military equipment, medicines and ammunition to the "AzovStal" site in Mariupol and successfully evacuated 16 wounded servicemen of the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

During this flight, the colonel discovered an enemy field camp and ammunition depots on the outskirts of Ohorodne, Manhush rural community, and passed on the coordinates of the enemy positions, which were then successfully targeted.

The helicopter pilots themselves call flights to "AzovStal" an "extra-tough mission for star". Because each flight could be the last one. And everyone who agreed to it was well aware of this. Of course, the crews did not fly there for rewards - they understood the importance of the cargo they could deliver there. And every wounded person rescued from there is priceless. But the state has awarded almost all those who flew to "AzovStal" the title of Hero of Ukraine...

On 5 April 2022, a pair of Mi-8 helicopters came under heavy enemy small arms and artillery fire while returning from the "AzovStal" area. The lead Mi-8 helicopter, piloted by Major Borys Horoshko, was damaged and made an emergency landing near Huliaipole, Polohiv district, Zaporizhzhia region, which was no longer even the front line but occupied territory.

At the time, Colonel Voronyi's crew was on combat duty in the search and rescue support system. Working alongside him were navigator pilot Lieutenant B. V. Pylypenko and onboard aviation technician Dmytro Burlakov. They located the downed helicopter and carried out a landing approach to provide assistance. 

"Voronyi, without hesitation or doubt, went to help the downed aircraft behind the front line, - army aviation pilots say of his actions. - "No one else did that anymore."

During the landing approach, the helicopter was hit by enemy air defence systems. The crew commander, Colonel Viacheslav Voronoi, was killed, the pilot navigator, Lieutenant B.V. Pylypenko, is still considered missing, and the onboard aviation technician, Dmytro Burlakov, sustained injuries of varying severity and was captured. He was released on 21 April 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange.

Colonel Viacheslav Voronyi was reported missing from 5 April 2022 to 30 January 2024. He was returned during a body swap...

During his lifetime, Colonel Voronyi was nominated by the Army Aviation Command for the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Order for his flight to "AzovStal", but only today will his family receive the award posthumously...

TRADEMARK GREETING "SO, COSSACKS!"

From a post by helicopter pilot Vasyl Mulik:

"5 December 2004.

A freshly minted lieutenant Vasyl Mulik was standing at the checkpoint of the then 3rd separate regiment of army aviation in the company of several other lieutenants. Lieutenant Mulik was a little scared. Lieutenant Mulik was nervous (I suspect the other lieutenants were also a little scared, because this was the FIRST time these guys had come to their unit).

- "So, Cossacks!" An officer in a flight suit and demi-seasonal jacket, who was unfamiliar to them, approached the group of "rookies", smiling amiably. - "What are you ashamed of? Follow me!

The pilot took the excited lieutenants through the checkpoint and literally led them by the hand through the unit - formation, squadron, regimental commander...

It was Major Voronyi. Viacheslav Olehovych Voronyi.

1 March 2022.

Major Mulik and several other pilots were silently stepping out of the Mi-8 cargo cabin onto the damp metal of the Brody airfield parking lot. Major Mulik wanted to kill and didn't give a f#ck - the day before, he had lost his wingman and his friend, having miraculously escaped from the battle on a completely shot-up board (I suspect that the other pilots also wanted to kill and didn't give a f#ck - after all, they relentlessly had been burning down columns of f#ggots near Kyiv for several days and nights).

At the side of the board, just as silently, they were met by an officer with an automatic rifle, wearing a flight suit—now pixelated—and a matching pixelated pea jacket.

It was Lieutenant Colonel Voronyi. Viacheslav Olehovych Voronyi.

Olehovych never shouted. He was a "God-given" pilot. He started every formation with the words "So, Cossacks!"

He retired before 2014. He flew in civilian companies. On 24 February 2022, he returned to his brigade. Because he couldn't help but return.

5 April 2022.

Communication was lost with a helicopter returning from a breakthrough to besieged Mariupol with wounded from "AzovStal". A search and rescue helicopter was launched to search for the missing aircraft. It was piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Voronyi. Viacheslav Olehovych Voronyi.
He did not return from that flight.

Olehovych could not return home for twenty-two months. But today he will finally be "home". Only this "home" is at Lukianivske Cemetery.

Colonel (posthumously) Voronyi. Viacheslav Olehovych Voronyi.

Eternal flight!

Your ability to breathe has a price. Remember that."

P.S. I would like to hear the opinion of citizens of Ukraine like myself, whom Viacheslav Voronyi defended at the cost of his life: does this officer not deserve the title of Hero of Ukraine? Are the deeds described above not enough? Perhaps I am overestimating his example of service to the country?

Violetta Kirtoka, Censor.NET