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| Anton Lytopad, Ukraine's best fighter pilot died in the war against Russia |
Kiev - One of the best fighter pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force died in the war against Russian troops . The pilot was named Anton Lytopad. Kiev officials announced his death on Sunday.
The Physics and Technical Lyceum of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council Facebook page said Lytopad, who was awarded the title of best pilot of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2019, died fighting against Russian troops.
The statement said Lytopad studied at the lyceum from 2005 to 2008. "Anton Lytopad, a Physics and Technical Lyceum graduate, died defending the Ukrainian state," the statement read. Just days before his death, he was honored by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the prestigious Order for Courage, 3rd grade, for his "courage, courage and professionalism".
Lystopad is known as a capable and very persistent fighter pilot. "Millions of Ukrainians joyfully and proudly watched on the 30th anniversary of the independence of the aviation column of the troops parade over Khreshchatyk.
Our Anton is the leader of this column," the agency's Facebook page continued. "Anton's path behind the wheel of a fighter jet is difficult but meaningful. However, the young man stubbornly pursued his dream of becoming a pilot, flying high in the sky like a bird, and contemplating the beauty of Earth with eagle eyes." The institute said Lytopad defended Ukraine "from the first minute" of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Local news media Ukrinform reported that the pilot studied at Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University from 2013 to 2018, and became a fighter pilot with the highest rank. Earlier this month, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a tweet that the Ukrainian Air Force could reliably defend its skies against Russia.
"The Air Force reliably defends the skies of Ukraine and gives the Russian aggressors a proper refusal in it," the tweet read on Aug. 7. "Thank you for your professionalism and dedication to defending Ukraine!" The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also released a video celebrating Ukrainian Air Force Day.