Oleksandr Oksanchenko

{{short description|Ukrainian fighter pilot and politician (1968–2022)}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Oleksandr Oksanchenko

| native_name = Олександр Оксанченко

| native_name_lang = uk

| image = Oleksandr Oksanchenko (cropped).jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1968|4|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Malomykhailivka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|2|25|1968|4|26|df=y}}

| death_place = Kyiv, Ukraine

| nickname = Grey Wolf

| birth_name = Oleksandr Yakovych Oksanchenko

| allegiance = {{USSR}} (1989–1991)
{{UKR}} (1991–2018, 2022)

| branch = {{air force|USSR}}
{{air force|UKR}}

| serviceyears = 1989–2018
2022

| rank = Colonel (Polkovnyk)

| servicenumber =

| unit = 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade

| commands =

| battles = {{tree list}}

| battles_label =

| awards = Order of Danylo Halytsky
{{Hero of Ukraine}} Order of the Gold Star (posthumously)

| alma_mater = Kharkiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots

| children = 2

}}

Oleksandr Yakovych Oksanchenko ({{langx|uk|Олександр Якович Оксанченко}}; 26 April 1968 – 25 February 2022), nicknamed the Grey Wolf, was a Ukrainian fighter pilot and city councilor in Myrhorod. He was a colonel in the Ukrainian Air Force who won awards in several air shows before retiring in 2018. In 2022, he returned to serve in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and was killed by a Russian S-400 missile during the battle of Kyiv. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Gold Star.

Early life

Oksanchenko was born 26 April 1968 in the village of {{Interlanguage link|Malomykhailivka|uk|Маломихайлівка (Синельниківський район)}}, Pokrovske Raion in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and attended his local secondary school until 1985 before commencing military aviation training.{{cite web |title=Profile: Oksanchenko Alexander Yakovlevich |url=http://myrgorod.pl.ua/files/docs/Deputati/8sklik/Biograf/oksanchenko.pdf |publisher=Myrhorod City Council |access-date=5 March 2022 |language=uk |quote=Я, Оксанченко Олександр Якович, народився 26 квітня 1968р. в с. Маломихайлівка Покровського району Дніпропетровської області. ... З 1975р по 1985р. - навчався в Маломихайлівській середній школі. 1985-1989р.р. - навчався в Харківському Вищому військовому авіаційному училищі льотчиків. |trans-quote=I, Oksanchenko Alexander Yakovlevich, was born on 26 April 1968. in the village Malomykhailivka, Pokrovsky district, Dnipropetrovsk region. ... From 1975 to 1985. - studied at Malomykhailivska secondary school. 1985-1989 - studied at the Kharkiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124011558/http://myrgorod.pl.ua/files/docs/Deputati/8sklik/Biograf/oksanchenko.pdf |url-status=live }} He graduated from the Kharkiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots.{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=Стал Героем посмертно. Погиб один из лучших летчиков-истребителей в мире Александр Оксанченко |url=https://focus.ua/voennye-novosti/508088-odin-iz-luchshih-letchikov-v-mire-ukrainec-aleksandr-oksanchenko-pogib-v-boyu-s-vragom-video |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=ФОКУС |language=ru |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301160626/https://focus.ua/voennye-novosti/508088-odin-iz-luchshih-letchikov-v-mire-ukrainec-aleksandr-oksanchenko-pogib-v-boyu-s-vragom-video |url-status=live }}

Career

Oksanchenko joined the Soviet Air Force in 1989.{{Cite news |last=Pruglo |first=Jan |date=1 March 2022 |title=У бою загинув миргородський ас Олександр Оксанченко — Герой України посмертно |language=uk |newspaper=Інтернет-Видання «Полтавщина» |url=https://poltava.to/news/64992/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302152906/https://poltava.to/news/64992/ |archive-date=2 March 2022}} He worked as an instructor pilot, later rising to the position of deputy commander responsible for flight training of his unit. During the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, he was stationed at Belbek Air Base and was in combat in Crimea and the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone.

From 2013 to 2018, Oksanchenko was a display pilot of the Sukhoi Su-27 for the Ukrainian Air Force,{{Cite news |date=1 March 2022 |title=Legendary Ukrainian display pilot known as Grey Wolf dies in combat |language=en |website=The Week |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2022/03/01/legendary-ukrainian-display-pilot-known-as-grey-wolf-dies-in-combat.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305093829/https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2022/03/01/legendary-ukrainian-display-pilot-known-as-grey-wolf-dies-in-combat.html |archive-date=5 March 2022}} logging over 2,000 flying hours. In 2016, he flew in the Malta International Airshow.{{Cite news |last=Attard |first=Giuseppe |date=1 March 2022 |title=Ukrainian fighter pilot who took part in 2016 Malta Airshow killed while defending Kyiv |website=The Malta Independent |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-03-01/local-news/Ukrainian-fighter-pilot-who-took-part-in-2016-Malta-Airshow-killed-while-defending-Kyiv-6736241072 |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301211710/https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-03-01/local-news/Ukrainian-fighter-pilot-who-took-part-in-2016-Malta-Airshow-killed-while-defending-Kyiv-6736241072 |url-status=live }} He was the winner of the 2016 {{Interlanguage link|Slovak International Air Fest|uk|SIAF}} and was presented with a trophy from the Slovak Air Force commander.{{Cite web |last=Kuznetsov |first=Sergey |date=30 August 2016 |title=Український льотчик переміг на міжнародному авіашоу SIAF-2016 у Словаччині |url=https://zn.ua/ukr/UKRAINE/ukrayinskiy-lotchik-peremig-na-mizhnarodnomu-aviashaou-siaf-2016-u-slovachchini-217526_.html |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=Зеркало недели {{!}} Дзеркало тижня {{!}} Mirror Weekly |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302215840/https://zn.ua/ukr/UKRAINE/ukrayinskiy-lotchik-peremig-na-mizhnarodnomu-aviashaou-siaf-2016-u-slovachchini-217526_.html |url-status=live }} In 2016, Oksanchenko was honored as the Myrhorod person of the year. In 2017, he won the As the Crow Flies Award for the best display at the Royal International Air Tattoo. In 2018, he won best pilot at the {{Interlanguage link|Czech International Air Fest|cs}}.{{Cite web |title=Оксанченко став найкращим асом на чеському авіашоу |trans-title=Oksanchenko became the best ace on the Czech air show |url=https://poltava365.com/oksanchenko-stav-najkrashhim-asom-na-cheskomu-aviashou.html |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=Poltava Battalion |language=uk |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228233116/https://poltava365.com/oksanchenko-stav-najkrashhim-asom-na-cheskomu-aviashou.html |url-status=live }} Oksanchenko was a colonel when he retired in 2018.

He was a member of the Strength and Honor ({{langx|uk|Сила і Честь}}) party in Poltava Oblast.{{cite web |title=Міська рада :: Офіційний сайт міста Миргород. Офіційний сайт Миргородської міської ради |language=uk |trans-title=City Council :: Official site of Myrhorod city. Official site of Myrhorod City Council|url=http://myrgorod.pl.ua/page/miska-vlada/miska-rada |website=myrgorod.pl.ua |access-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125162135/http://myrgorod.pl.ua/page/miska-vlada/miska-rada |archive-date=25 January 2021}} Starting in November 2020, he served as one of the deputies in the Myrhorod city council.

Oksanchenko came out of retirement and resumed active duty during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On the night of 25 February 2022, he was killed by a missile while defending the skies over Kyiv.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=Oleksandr Oksanchenko Death, Ukrainian best fighter pilot dies in the battle |url=https://deathobits.com/2022/03/01/oleksandr-oksanchenko-death-ukrainian-best-fighter-pilot-dies-in-the-battle/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=DeathObits.com |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Oksanchenko had two daughters.

Legacy

{{Tweet

| name = 831 st tactical aviation brigade

| username = 831TABr

| date = 29 August 2023

| text = ПІД МУЗИКУ ПАЛАЮЧОГО ФОРПЕПІАНО…🎹 Українські пілоти вшанували пам’ять своїх бойових побратимів.
Назавжди в строю! 🫡✈️🇺🇦 @PvK_Center_UA @KpsZSU [https://pic.twitter.com/jxK9KBt4Bx pic.twitter.com/jxK9KBt4Bx]

| ID = 1696462928818450886

| image = 831-а бригада тактичної авіації.png

| translation = UNDER THE MUSIC OF BURNING FORTEPIANO...🎹 Ukrainian pilots honored the memory of their fighting brothers. Forever in order! 🫡✈️🇺🇦 @PvK_Center_UA @KpsZSU [https://pic.twitter.com/jxK9KBt4Bx pic.twitter.com/jxK9KBt4Bx]}}

On 29 August 2023, the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared a video of piano burning ceremony has been held as a tribute to fallen Ukrainian fighter pilot {{Interlanguage link|Denys Kyryliuk|lt=Denys Kyryliuk|uk|Кирилюк Денис Миколайович}} and commemorated to {{Interlanguage link|Stepan Chobanu|lt=Stepan Chobanu|uk|Чобану Степан Іванович}} and Oleksandr Oksanchenko. On video of the ceremony shared by 831st TBA shown a piano with painted pilots' nicknames and planes' tail numbers as next: "11 Chobanu" (for Su-27S "11 BLUE"), "30 Kyryliuk" (for Su-27S "30 BLUE"{{Cite web |title=Sukhoi Su-27, 30 BLUE (cn 36911013918) |url=http://spotters.net.ua/search/?reg=30+BLUE&cn=36911013918 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=spotters.net.ua}}) and "100 Oksanchenko" (for Su-27P "100 BLUE"{{Cite web |title=Sukhoi Su-27, 100 BLUE (cn 36911035716) |url=http://spotters.net.ua/search/?reg=100+BLUE&cn=36911035716 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=spotters.net.ua}}).{{Cite web |last= |author-link=831st Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine) |title=ПІД МУЗИКУ ПАЛАЮЧОГО ФОРПЕПІАНО…🎹 Українські пілоти вшанували пам'ять своїх бойових побратимів. Назавжди в строю! 🫡✈️🇺🇦 |trans-title=UNDER THE MUSIC OF BURNING FORTEPIANO...🎹 Ukrainian pilots honored the memory of their fighting brothers. Forever in order! 🫡✈️🇺🇦 |url=https://www.facebook.com/831BrTA/videos/%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B4-%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%83-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%87%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%B5%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE/1359569034953115/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=831st Tactical Aviation Brigade |language=en |type=video |via=Facebook}}

Awards

Oksanchenko was a recipient of the Order of Danylo Halytsky. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Gold Star by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title="Збив Іл-76 росіян". 12 нових Героїв України: що про них відомо |url=https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/sbil-il-76-rossiyan-12-novyh-geroev-ukrainy-chto-o-nih-izvestno |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301054843/https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/sbil-il-76-rossiyan-12-novyh-geroev-ukrainy-chto-o-nih-izvestno |archive-date=1 March 2022 |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=LIGA |language=uk}}{{cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=Zelensky awards title of Hero of Ukraine to 12 servicemen, six of them posthumously – decree |url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/804346.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305175936/https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/804346.html |archive-date=5 March 2022 |access-date=5 March 2022 |website=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en}}