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The body of Ukrainian fighter pilot surfaces in the sea near Tsarevo

Colonel Mykhailo Matyushenko was buried in Bucha
Photo: glavcom.ua

The body of a Ukrainian fighter pilot surfaced in the sea near Bulgaria’s Tsarevo in September, the Regional Police Directorate in Burgas has announced.

Because of the long time the body spent in the water it was difficult to identify. After the Ukrainian air forces were contacted, he was identified by the service number on his metal tag, which was highly oxidized.

The pilot is 61-year old Colonel Mykhailo Matyushenko, the doyen of Ukraine’s air force, known by the call sign “Did” (Grandpa). He was shot down on 26 June in an aerial battle over the Black Sea. The body has been returned and was buried in Bucha near Kyiv on 4 October. 



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