An aircraft test pilot and a 23-year-old navigator: what is known about those who died in the plane crash in the Khmelnytskyi region
Bogdan Babenko was originally from the town of Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region, according to the town’s mayor, Volodymyr Belyi.
“Bogdan was one of those who chose the path of a soldier not because of circumstances, but because of the call of his heart. From childhood, he had decided that his mission was to defend his homeland and keep the skies peaceful. Whilst studying at Lyceum No. 3, he pursued his dream with determination: first, he attended a military lyceum, and later graduated from the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University,” said Belyi.
Bogdan was a navigator with the Petro Frank Tactical Aviation Brigade No. 7 of the Ukrainian Air Force and held the rank of senior lieutenant. According to the head of Bohodukhiv, he was the only son in the family.
“There are no words that could heal this terrible wound in the hearts of his mother and father… He sincerely believed in our victory and gave his most precious possession — his young life — for Ukraine. He will forever remain 23 years old. Bohdan’s patriotism, courage and loyalty to his military oath will remain an example to each and every one of us,” said Volodymyr Belyi.
According to the report, 55-year-old Bohdan Zagorulko was a test pilot, known in particular for performing the ‘barrel roll’ aerobatic manoeuvre on an An-32RE military transport aircraft. As noted by the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR), he was mobilised on 24 February 2022 as one of the first volunteers.
“After the start of the full-scale war, Bohdan Hryhorovych was one of the few pilots who did not leave for Germany, but instead joined the Air Force and, having mastered the Su-24M, defended our country at the controls. He always commanded my great respect, both as a pilot and as a person. In particular, for his respectful attitude towards the technicians. I was honoured to work alongside him,” wrote Anatolii Uvarenko on social media.
Su-24M military aircraft crash in the Khmelnytskyi region: what is known
On 16 June, at around 7.00 pm, a Su-24M bomber crashed near one of the settlements in the Khmelnytskyi region. Both pilots were killed.
According to the investigation, the flight was being carried out in accordance with combat orders. An operational investigation team has been dispatched to the scene, and the full circumstances of the flight, the technical condition of the aircraft and the causes of the crash are currently being established.
The ‘black box’ has already been recovered from the site for further analysis. Investigators are also seizing the aircraft’s flight log, the crew’s medical examination records, the airfield flight controller’s log and other official documentation, including flight authorisation documents.
The preliminary legal classification is a breach of flight rules or flight preparation rules, resulting in a crash or other serious consequences (Part 2 of Article 416 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
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