Постать Олександра Жиброва у меморіалі «Військові льотчики – наші краяни»

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the life and heroic sacrifice of Oleksandr Zhybrov (1979–2022), a 1st-class military pilot and Lieutenant Colonel (posthumous) of the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade. The study is part of the broader "Memorial to the Fallen Aviators" project, implemented by the Aviation Hub of the Ukrainian State Flight Academy (USFA). It highlights the deep connection between the Zhybrov military dynasty and the Academy: Oleksandr’s father, Colonel Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zhybrov, served as a long-time senior lecturer at the Academy’s Department of Flight Operation and Flight Safety.The central focus of the abstract is the detailed reconstruction of Oleksandr Zhybrov’s final combat mission on the first day of the full - scale Russian invasion, February 24, 2022. Operating from the Kanatove airfield, Zhybrov led the first pair of Su-25 attack aircraft to strike enemy columns advancing from Crimea. During the second attack on a vital engineering convoy, his aircraft was hit by enemy air defense. Realizing the plane was uncontrollable and insufficient altitude for a safe ejection, Zhybrov steered his damaged Su-25 directly into the remains of the enemy column, successfully preventing the crossing of the Dnipro River at the cost of his own life. The article also emphasizes the significance of the "Virtual Memorial" and physical commemorative stands at the USFA as essential tools for preserving historical memory. By documenting the professional path of such "Knights of the Sky," the Academy ensures that the legacy of native heroes like Oleksandr Zhybrov – honored posthumously with the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi (3rd Class) – serves as a moral compass and a primary educational factor for the next generation of Ukrainian aviation specialists.