Fifth Anniversary of Crashing the AN-30B Reconnaissance Aircraft Near Sloviansk

On June 6, 2014, AN-30B reconnaissance aircraft, navigated by Lieutenant-Colonel K. V. Mohylko, was taking photographs of territory over Sloviansk town Donetsk region. The reconnaissance aircraft crew consisted of eight people. At 17.00 p.m. at the height of 4050 meters, that is considered safe, a missile launched by the Russian occupation troops from man portable antiaircraft missile system hit the aircraft. The missile hit the right engine, a fire broke out. According to the survived member of aircraft crew, photographic surveying operator Serhii Kaminskyi died at once after explosion of man portable antiaircraft missile system. Crew’s commander Kostiantyn Mohylko transmitted the whole information to the Air Forces of Ukraine Headquarters and ordered crew to abandon the aircraft. The first who abandoned the aircraft were Lieutenants Kyrylo Kramariev and Vasyl Polazhynets, and instructor navigator Lieutenant-Colonel Serhii Nikolaiev. Volodymyr Momot was the last who made a parachute jump but he did not manage to save himself: the distance between ground and him was 500 metres less; it was not enough time for parachute opening. Flight engineer Captain Pavlo Dryshliuk and mechanic Oleksii Potapenko along with crew’s commander Lieutenant-Colonel Kostiantyn Mohylko stayed in the aircraft, having directed it beyond the town. The aircraft crashed at an angle of 80 degrees in north of Sloviansk, behind Pryshyb village Sloviansk district.

As a result of aircraft crash, five members of crews perished. They are commander of the aircraft Kostiantyn Mohylko, flight engineer Pavlo Dryshliuk, flight mechanic Oleksii Potapenko, photographic surveying operator Serhii Kaminskyi and radio operator Volodymyr Momot. The only people who saved themselves, having made parachute jumps, were Lieutenants Kyrylo Kramarev and Vasyl Polazhynets, and instructor navigator Lieutenant-Colonel Serhii Nikolaiev.

At the cost of own lives, the crew prevented civilian casualties.

According to a Decree of the President of Ukraine, dated by 20 June 2014, no.543/2014 “On awarding with state awards of Ukraine”, the following servicemen were awarded with the Order of “Bohdan Khmelnytskyi” 3rd degree: Major Serhii Kaminskyi (posthumously), Captain Pavlo Dryshliuk (posthumously), Praporshchyk Oleksii Potapenko (posthumously) and Praporshchyk Volodymyr Momot (posthumously) for personal courage and heroism displayed while protecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the oath of allegiance and invincible spirit. Lieutenant-Colonel Serhii Nikolaiev and Lieutenant Vasyl Polazhynets were awarded with the Order “For Courage” 3rd degree.

According to a Decree of the President of Ukraine, dated by 20 June 2014, no.545/2014 “On awarding the title of Hero of Ukraine to K. Mohylko”, for exceptional courage and heroism, invincible spirit in the struggle for independent Ukrainian state, loyalty to the oath of allegiance, Lieutenant-Colonel Kostiantyn Viktorovych Mohylko was posthumously awarded with “Golden Star” Order of the Hero of Ukraine.

According to a Decree of the President of Ukraine, dated by 20 June 2014, no.587/2014 “On awarding with state awards of Ukraine”, Lieutenant Kyrylo Kramariev was awarded with the Order “For Courage” 3rd degree for personal courage and heroism displayed while protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

On 25 August 2015, it was also signed a Decree of the President of Ukraine no.516/2015 “On assigning the name of Kostiantyn Mohylko to the AN-30B aircraft (flight number 86) of the 15th transport aviation brigade of the Air Forces of Ukraine”.

A memorial sign “Mournful Angel” was unveiled on the site where heroes-pilots of crew of AN-30B aircraft no.80 perished.

Remembrance about their feat will live as long as we remember them!