A deceased Crimean Tatar pilot was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine

Marat Mambetov, a 25-year-old military pilot, was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. The major was killed on October 1 during a combat mission.

This is stated in a decree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Marat Mambetov was awarded this honor for his personal courage and heroism in defending Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Marat Mambetov was a Crimean Tatar and the commander of a flight squadron in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, “Ghosts of Kyiv.” During the full-scale war, he flew approximately 200 combat sorties, providing air cover for Ukrainian troops and striking Russian army positions.

On October 1, during a combat sortie, his MiG-29 was struck by a Russian anti-aircraft missile. The pilot ejected but sustained fatal injuries.

On October 4, a farewell ceremony for Marat Mambetov was held on Independence Square in Kyiv. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects to the soldier—his family, comrades, friends, representatives of the Crimean Tatar community, his teachers, and classmates.

 Mambetov was born on July 17, 2001, in the Melitopol district. In 2018, he graduated from the “Osnova” Lyceum in Boryspil, after which he enrolled at the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University in Kharkiv. After graduation, he served in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade and underwent training on the MiG-29.

Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, emphasized during the funeral that Marat was a Crimean Tatar and a soldier of Ukraine. He also conveyed condolences to the pilot’s family on behalf of the Crimean Tatars, particularly those living in occupied Crimea.

According to his friends, Marat planned to master Western aviation technology and was studying English for that purpose. He also wanted to get married and contribute to writing a book about modern Ukrainian military aviation.

Ірина Глухова