Occupiers shot down helicopter over Slovyansk, killing General Kulchytsky, seven years ago

"Seven years ago, Major General Serhiy Kulchytsky, the godfather of the first volunteer battalion of the National Guard, was killed together with 11 police officers and the National Guard members after a helicopter had been downed over Slovyansk. The first Hero of Ukraine in this war, a combat officer," said Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine informs.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs notes that Serhiy Kulchytsky was one of those who created a volunteer movement in the National Guard of Ukraine, in particular the first reserve battalion from which the formation of all volunteer guard units began. After Kulchytsky's death, the battalion was named after him.

On May 29, 2014, a Mi-8 helicopter was shot down by terrorists after taking off from Mount Karachun.

Twelve people were killed in the crash – six members of the National Guard, including the helicopter crew, and six representatives of the special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. One of the crew members, navigator Oleksandr Makeenko, survived by a miracle.

On June 20, 2014, Serhiy Kulchytsky was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for exceptional military service to the Ukrainian state, heroism and self-sacrifice shown in defense of the state sovereignty of Ukraine. Other victims were awarded the Order "For Courage" of the 1st degree (posthumously).

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