Serhii Khomik Explained

Serhii Khomik
Native Name Lang:UKR
Birth Date:1986
Death Date:11 November 2022
Birth Place:Susval, Volyn Oblast
Death Place:near the village of Berestove, Donetsk Oblast
Birth Name:Serhii Yaroslavovych Khomik
Allegiance: Ukraine
Branch: Ukrainian Air Force
Rank:Colonel
Battles:Russo-Ukrainian War
Awards:Order for Courage

Serhii Yaroslavovych Khomik (Ukrainian: Сергій Ярославовик Хомік; 1986, Susval, Volyn Oblast — 11 November 2022, near the village of Berestove, Donetsk Oblast[1]) was a Ukrainian military pilot of the I class,[2] colonel of the 456th Transport Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a participant of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Biography

In 2008, after graduating from the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University, he served as a pilot-navigator of the helicopter search and rescue unit of a helicopter squadron.

He participated in the UN peacekeeping mission in Africa.

During the Russian-Ukrainian war, the officer flew about 1000 combat missions (ATO/JFO — about 800; 2022 — almost 250). Colonel Khomik's crew carried out successful combat missions, and more than 20 pilots mastered combat skills under his leadership.[3]

Commander of a helicopter squadron. On 11 November 2022, two Mi-8s of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took off to destroy the Russian occupiers in Donetsk Oblast. The flight was going on as usual, and the lead helicopter under the command of Colonel Serhii Khomik approached the training area. Then there was a flash. The machine made a sharp maneuver to the left. For a few more seconds, the commander used superhuman efforts to keep the burning helicopter in the air. A few moments later, the lead helicopter "met the ground" near the village of Berestove in Donetsk Oblast. At the cost of his own life, Serhii Khomik saved his comrades.

He was buried on 17 November 2022 in the family village.

He is survived by his parents, wife and two children.

Awards

Honoring the memory

Vinnytsia plans to name a place in honor of Serhii Khomik.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Сергій Хомік . Платформа пам'яті Меморіал .
  2. Web site: Командир екіпажу Мі-8 полковник Сергій Хомік — герой, що ціною власного життя врятував своїх побратимів . Оксана Уретій, Роман Рибачук . 2022-12-15 . АрміяInform .
  3. Web site: На Волині попрощалися із загиблим командиром вертолітної ескадрильї (фото) . 2022-11-17 . Вісник+К .
  4. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 23 December 2022 year № 874/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
  5. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 7 November 2022 year № 755/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
  6. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 2 May 2022 year № 293/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
  7. Web site: У Вінниці планують найменувати топоніми на честь іще двох полеглих Захисників України – Сергія Пархоменка та Сергія Хоміка. Рішення виконавчого комітету. www.vmr.gov.ua. 2023-06-18. uk.