The people of Chuguiv are proud that the honored pilot-ace of Ukraine, Colonel Vladislav Rykov, lived in our city for 4 years of his life and served in the 203rd training aviation brigade, which was stationed in the city of Chuguiv, as an instructor pilot.
Vladyslav was forced to enter combat from the first day of the full-scale war. After the strikes on the Chuguiv airfield, he was able to withdraw the plane from the attack, and later transferred to a combat brigade and subsequently defended Ukraine as part of the 299th V. Nikiforov Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a pilot of the Su-25 attack aircraft.
During the less than two years of the war, Vladislav Rykov flew 385 combat missions. He destroyed dozens of Russian tanks and armored vehicles, 18 command posts, and over a thousand Russian soldiers.
«Kharkiv region, Kyiv region, Donetsk region, Luhansk region. And enemy fighters and air defenses were hunting for him. He was saved by professionalism, stress resistance and a thirst for victory! The Russians were convinced that «aviation in Ukraine no longer exists!» But they were deeply mistaken. Vlad confidently burned the occupiers and their equipment!” – notes the command of the aviation brigade.
Vladyslav dreamed of being a pilot since childhood, of conquering the sky. "My son constantly spent time with me at airfields, as a schoolboy I took him on a light-engine plane. He was so passionate about the sky! Then I created the Aviation Training Cadet Center for Vladyslav and his friends. The center is still functioning, many of today's heroes are its students. So when it came time to choose a higher educational institution, there was no question - only KHNUPS (Kharkiv National University of Air Forces named after I. Kozhedub). My life is closely connected with aviation, so we could discuss various professional moments for hours," shares the Hero's father's memories.
Vladislav died on February 7, 2024, while performing a combat mission over the city of Kurakhove, Pokrovsky district, Donetsk region, during his 385th combat mission. And he was only 30 years old…
The pilot is buried in Vinnytsia, on the Alley of Glory, in a city where he never lived, but where he dreamed of settling with his family after victory.
He had the call sign «Magia» for a reason. He was given this call sign for his virtuoso piloting style. Everyone who knew Vladislav personally says that he was truly magical – both on the ground and in the sky.
By Decree of the President of Ukraine dated February 24, 2024 No. 117/2024, he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine (posthumously) «For personal courage and heroism shown in the defense of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people», and by Decree of the President of Ukraine dated December 5, 2024 No. 830/2024 «In order to restore the historical traditions of the national army regarding the names of military units, taking into account the exemplary performance of the assigned tasks by the personnel of the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was awarded the honorary title «named after Vladislav Rykov».
By order of the head of the Chuguiv City Military Administration, Hero of Ukraine Colonel RYKOV Vladyslav Mykolayovych (call sign "MAGIC"), a pilot of a Su-25 attack aircraft of the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after V. Nikiforov, was awarded the title "Honorary Citizen of the Chuguiv City Territorial Community" (posthumously).
