Maksym Ustymenko

Maksym Ustymenko
Native name
Максим Устименко
Born
Максим Юрійович Устименко

1993 (1993)
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Died (aged 31)
Near Sumy, Ukraine
AllegianceUkraine Ukraine
Branch
 Ukrainian Air Force
Service years
2017–2025
Rank
Pidpolkovnyk
Conflicts
Russo-Ukrainian War †
AwardsHero of Ukraine Order of the Gold Star (Posthumously)
Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd class
Education Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University

Maksym Yuriiovych Ustymenko (Ukrainian: Максим Юрійович Устименко; 1993 – 29 June 2025) was a Ukrainian fighter pilot with the rank of Pidpolkovnyk in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant of the Russo-Ukrainian war, during which he was killed in 2025. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.[1]

Biography

Born in 1993,[2] he was a classmate of the fallen pilot and Hero of Ukraine Andrii Pilshchykov.[3]

On the night of 29 June 2025, Ustymenko participated in efforts to intercept a massive Russian attack in an F-16 fighter jet, managing to destroy seven Russian Projectiles. While practicing on the last target his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude. He turned the aircraft away from populated areas but did not have time to eject, crashing near Sumy.[4] His funeral was held on July 3 2026 in Kyiv.[5]

Personal Life

Ustymenko had a son who was four years old at the time of his death.[6]

Awards

Military ranks

  • Colonel (as of 2025)[1]
  • Pidpolkovnyk (as of 2022)[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Decree of the President of Ukraine from 29 червня 2025 year № 444/2025 «Про присвоєння М.Устименку звання Герой України» (in Ukrainian)
  2. ↑ Онісімова, Вікторія (29 June 2025). "Відбиваючи атаку РФ, на літаку F-16 загинув льотчик Максим Устименко". novynarnia.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  3. ↑ Богданьок, Олена (29 June 2025). "Вночі, відбиваючи повітряну атаку РФ, загинув пілот на літаку F-16". suspilne.media (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ukrainian F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko killed in action". www.ukrainianworldcongress.org. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Service, RFE/RL's Ukrainian; Kushnir, Maryan; Tizard, Will (3 July 2025). Ukrainians Mourn The Loss Of F-16 Pilot Ustymenko. Retrieved 11 August 2026 – via www.rferl.org.
  6. ↑ "What is known about Ukrainian F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko, killed in action". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 Decree of the President of Ukraine from 28 лютого 2022 year № 79/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
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