Throughout the early hours of Tuesday news broke that Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko, a Ukrainian air force fighter pilot, was killed while defending his country’s capital from Russian fighter jets.
Oksanchenko, who was nicknamed ‘Grey Wolf’, was in Malta as part of the Ukrainian air force delegation for the 2016 Malta International Airshow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced soon after news broke that Oksanchenko had been killed in action that the veteran pilot would be posthumously awarded the title of ‘Hero of Ukraine.’
Col. Oksanchenko had visited Malta as part of the Air Show display back in 2016. At the time he had visited the island in his Ukrainian Air Force Su-27, though it is unknown what type of aircraft he was flying during his final battle.
Oksanchenko flying his Su-27 alongside an Antonov An-124 aircraft at the 2016 Malta International Airshow (Photo: Giuseppe Attard)
Oksanchenko had gained international fame as the Su-27 Flanker display pilot with the 831st Guards Tactical Aviation Brigade from Myrhorod air base, taking part at various European air shows including SIAF, Royal International Air Tattoo and the Czech International Air Fest. In particular, at RIAT 2017, flying the Sukhoi Su-27P1M he received the ‘As the Crow Flies’ Trophy (FRIAT Trophy), for the best overall flying demonstration as judged by members of the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo.
He had retired from active duty back in 2018 but continued to serve as a trainer up until he voluntarily returned to active duty following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this week.
Col. Oksanchenko’s death received multiple tributes from the international aviation society who all had personal experiences with the pilot given his involvement in many international airshows across the world.
The Malta Aviation Society, which organizes the airshow, described Oksanchenko as a “humble, great and cheerful type of guy”, and said that their heart goes out to him.