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Juba: Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol
On March 14, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) organized a memorial ceremony to honor the Ukrainian pilot who was shot in Nasir, Upper Nile State, and to pay tribute to his colleagues who survived the incident.
The event was solemn and touching. Sergei Prykhodko from Ukraine was part of the helicopter crew that came under fire—despite assurances of safe passage—during an extraction mission. Two of his colleagues were injured in the tragic incident.
Sergiy Kostyuk, Chief Pilot of the Ukrainian Helicopter Company, said: “Sergei loved life, not just his own. That’s why he became a rescuer, a great rescuer and instructor. He saved many lives during his career and gave his life to save others. He is in our minds. He is in our hearts.”
The ceremony included words of praise for the martyrs and the heroic role of the UN peacekeepers in protecting lives wherever they serve. It also involved the presentation of medals to the deceased and the survivors of the tragic incident. The UNMISS head of mission signed a memorial book in honor of Sergei’s death, followed by other officials, mission members, and colleagues working with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.
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