Vadym Voroshylov

Vadym Oleksandrovych Voroshylov (Ukrainian: Вадим Олександрович Ворошилов; callsign "Karaya"; 2 February 1994) is a fighter pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force, and a recipient of the Hero of Ukraine award.

Vadym Voroshylov
Native name	Вадим Олександрович Ворошилов
Birth name	Vadym Oleksandrovych Voroshylov
Nickname(s)	Karaya Ghost of Vinnytsia
Born	(1994-02-02) February 2, 1994 (age 31) Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine
Allegiance	Ukraine
Branch	Ukrainian Air Force
Rank	Major
Battles / wars	Russo-Ukrainian War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Awards	Order of the Gold Star
Alma mater	Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University

He took his call sign, Karaya, in honor of the World War II German fighter pilot Erich Hartmann, the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare.^{[1][unreliable source?]}

Biography

In 2011, he graduated from the Kremenchuk Military Lyceum,^[2] and in 2015 he graduated (with honors; specialty — Military Administration (Air Force) and in 2016 he earned a (Master's degree, with honors, specialty — management of aviation units) from the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University.

After graduation, he was assigned to the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, where he served as a pilot (2016–2018), senior pilot (2018–2020) of the aviation link of the aviation squadron and head of the flight safety service (2020–2021).

In 2017, he became the best young pilot of the South Air Command.

In 2020, following the results of flight competitions, he was named the "Best Fighter Crew of the Air Force of Ukraine".

In 2021, at the end of his contract, he resigned from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He worked as a senior aviation chief at a civilian airfield.

Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022)

Together to victory (April 7, 2023)

On February 24, 2022, after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he resumed his service.

At first, he flew missions over the Zhytomyr Oblast. After that, he flew over the Izyum and eastern directions, and later over the Kherson Oblast.

On October 10, during a massive missile attack, he shot down two Russian cruise missiles.^[3]

On October 12, according to Ukrainian officials he destroyed five Shahed 136 drones: three in southern Ukraine and two over Vinnytsia. ^[3] Due to the damage to his fighter aircraft, a MiG-29, Voroshylov ejected over the Vinnytsia region, having previously diverted the fighter jet from a settlement.^[3] He received the Hero of Ukraine award for his actions, and acquired the nickname "Ghost of Vinnytsia".^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Awards

• Hero of Ukraine (2022)^[9]
• Order for Courage, III class (2022)^[10]