Zelenskyy posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to a pilot from the "Ghosts of Kyiv" group

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Major Marat Mambetov, who served as a flight commander in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, “The Ghost of Kyiv.”

 The highest state award was granted for personal courage and heroism demonstrated in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This was announced in a presidential decree.

On October 1, 2026, while carrying out a combat mission on one of the front lines, Captain Marat Mambetov, flight commander of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade “Ghost of Kyiv,” was killed in action. The Ukrainian defender, flying a MiG-29 fighter jet, was carrying out missile and bomb strikes against Russian occupiers. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by an enemy missile; the pilot ejected but did not survive.

On August 28, 2025, a funeral service was held in Kropyvnytskyi for the fallen MiG-29 fighter pilot, Major Serhiy Bondar. He served in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade “Ghost of Kyiv” and was the deputy squadron commander. 

A memorial service for Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot Maksym Ustymenko was held at St. Michael’s Cathedral and on Independence Square. He was one of those known as the “Ghost of Kyiv” and died while repelling a massive Russian missile and drone attack.