Dear residents of the Chuhuyiv community!
Today, September 25, 2025, we honor the memory of the 26 heroes who died in a plane crash near our city five years ago. This day will forever remain in our hearts as a day of sorrow and remembrance.
On September 25, 2020, at 8:45 p.m., an An-26Sh military aircraft (plane #76) of the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade of the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University crashed during a scheduled training flight. Of the 27 people on board, 26 people died - almost the entire group of cadets and crew members.
These young people came to the university with the dream of serving Ukraine, defending its skies, and protecting the peaceful sleep of their fellow citizens. Among the dead was actually a whole group of cadets – still children who had their whole lives ahead of them, plans, dreams, and loves.
They were training to be the defenders of the skies of Ukraine, but fate decreed otherwise. Their last flight became eternal...
Each of the 26 dead is a separate tragedy, a separate family that lost the most precious thing. These are young men who chose the difficult path of serving their homeland. Among them were cadets from different parts of Ukraine who came to Chuguev to receive aviation education and become military pilots.
Experienced instructors who passed on their knowledge to the younger generation also gave their lives fulfilling their professional duty. They trained future defenders of Ukrainian skies, taught cadets the art of flying and a love for aviation.
Only one cadet survived, becoming a living testament to that tragedy and a reminder of how fragile human life can be and how important it is to cherish every day.
Today, as Ukraine wages a just war against Russian aggression, the memory of the fallen cadets and instructors takes on a special significance. These young people were preparing to defend Ukrainian skies, and although they were not destined to do so personally, their sacrifice was not in vain.
They became part of a great galaxy of heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine. Their memory inspires the current defenders who today defend our skies from enemy missiles and drones.
Perhaps among those who are shooting down Russian "daggers" and "calibers" today are classmates of the deceased, those who studied alongside them and continue their work.
Five years is enough time for the sharp pain of loss to dull a little, but not enough to forget. And we must not forget. The memory of those who died serving Ukraine must live in our hearts forever.
Today we bow our heads in memory of the fallen...
Special words of sympathy and support to the relatives and friends of the deceased. Your pain is the pain of all of Ukraine. Your sons, husbands, brothers, friends forever remained young in our memory. They did not grow old, did not become disappointed, did not break down - they remained as they were: young, full of hope, ready to serve the Motherland.
Know that you are not alone in your grief. The entire Chuguiv community, all of Ukraine, remembers and grieves with you.
Eternal memory to the heroes! Eternal glory! Eternal flight!
