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Ukrainian pilot snaps selfie of blood-covered face after shooting down suicide drones

Jimie 2022. 12. 8. 20:55

Ukrainian pilot snaps a selfie of his blood-covered face after ejecting having shot down wave of Russia’s Iranian-made suicide drones - before being given hero status by Zelensky

  • Voroshylov earned a reputation as a drone killer, shooting down five in one week
  • But the final drone exploded and left him with a head wound before he ejected
  • He took a selfie and uploaded it to Instagram, before he received the award

By TOM BROWN FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 21:47 AEDT, 8 December 2022 | UPDATED: 22:14 AEDT, 8 December 2022

 

A famous Ukrainian pilot who shot down two missiles and five Iranian suicide drones before ejecting from his plane uploaded a selfie of his bloodied face — receiving the 'Hero of Ukraine, the order of the Gold Star' for his efforts.

Major Vadym Voroshylov ejected from his MiG fighter jet following a tense battle with Iranian drones, suffering a head wound that sent blood running down his face.

But the intense nighttime battle back in October didn't stop him from showing a thumbs up and taking a quick selfie.

A month later, Ukrainian president Zelensky granted Voroshylov the title 'Hero of Ukraine, Order of the Gold Star', the country's highest military honour.

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Major Vadym Voroshylov was awarded the medal 'Hero of Ukraine' after ejecting from his MiG fighter jet following a tense battle with Russian drones, suffering a head wound that sent blood running down his face. He took a selfie and uploaded it to his Instagram

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Voroshylov is pictured in happier times. Although he is now one of Ukraine's most decorated fighters, he at one point quite flying altogether

Although Voroshylov is now one of Ukraine's most decorated fighters, he at one point quite flying altogether.

He criticised the Ukrainian airforce for scapegoating pilots that got into trouble, so he left the service.

'They always blame the pilot,' when a plane crashes, he told the Kyiv Post. 'No matter if it was the human factor or a technical malfunction'.

That was before Putin launched his attack on Ukraine in February 25, and Voroshylov signed back up to fight against the Russian forces swamping over his country.

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A photo from the pilot's Instagram is shown. Voroshylov had earned a reputation as a drone killer after shooting down five in a single week, flying under the call sign 'Karaya'

 

Voroshylov had earned a reputation as a drone killer after shooting down five in a single week, flying under the call sign 'Karaya'.

Russia has been targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, blowing up transformers and power plants using Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones.

It was one of Iran's drones exploding during a furious firefight with Voroshylov over Vinnytsia in west-central Ukraine that took down his jet.

Debris cut into the pilot's cheek as he spun towards the earth, grabbing hold of the ejection handle and pulling it.

'I will say succinctly,' he wrote alongside the photo he posted on Instagram. 'No one and nothing can break us!'

The pilot is now back in the air having recovered from his wounds, according to Forbes.

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Ukrainian pilot snaps selfie of blood-covered face after shooting down suicide drones