With the call sign Karaya.
An ‘elf’ military pilot.
Shot down five Iranian drones.
Over Vinnytsia and ejected.
With the call sign Karaya.
He is already waiting for.
A new aircraft.
A little more – and he returns to the ranks.
He worked in the sky.
Of Vinnytsia region.
The fifth target of that day.
Was fatal to his plane.
He recalls details that morning.
On October 12.
“My morning started at 4 o’clock.
They gave an “air” signal.”
“One pilot destroyed.
Two “Shahedas”.
In the south of Ukraine.
I also went next.
“I also destroyed three.
Landed at the operational airfield.”
This was followed by.
A working day.
And in the evening of that day.
The attacks began again.
“I did the guidance.
And interception of the air target.”
“Unfortunately.
After its destruction.
The wreckage of the explosion.
Damaged my plane.”
“There was a destruction.
Of the cockpit glass.
And the front bow aircraft.”
He suffered minor injuries.
Including cuts.
But blood prevented him from.
Quickly assessing the situation.
“There was a settlement ahead.”
“I checked the control of the aircraft:
It was already partially uncontrollable.
Therefore, seeing a black area.
In front of me.”
“I found that.
It was a field.
Then the fire began inside.
The cockpit of the aircraft.”
“And when the flames had already.
Begun to reach me.
I ejected without delay.
As the book taught.”
On Armed Forces Day.
He posted this photo.
With his bloody face.
On Instagram.
He says he made it.
For practical reasons to assess.
“His health status and situation.”
Meaning he used it as a mirror.
Later he decided.
To publish a photo.
And thus encourage ‘elves’.
“This is the message.”
“That our nation cannot be broken.
It doesn’t matter.
In what situation.
There would be ‘elf’.”
After a successful ejection.
From the damaged aircraft.
He descended to the ground.
For two minutes.
“I had time to think about everything.
See everything.
Plan further actions after landing.
There was enough time.”
He recalls and adds that.
After landing he called the commander first.
Then the phone turned off.
And he decided to look for help on his own.
“The bleeding was minimal.
There was a little back pain.
But I knew it was normal.”
He recalls.
He landed 8 km.
From the crash site of the plane.
He was able to reach.
The nearest house.
In one of the villages.
Where he was met by a married couple.
Now the locals call him.
“The Ghost of Vinnytsia region”.
With the call sign Karaya.
An ‘elf’ military pilot.
Shot down five Iranian drones.
Over Vinnytsia and ejected.
With the call sign Karaya.
He is already waiting for.
A new aircraft.
A little more – and he returns to the ranks.
Now the locals call him.
“The Ghost of Vinnytsia region”.
‘Gandalf the Green’ conferred on him.
The title of Hero of Ukraine.
“For personal courage and heroism.
Shown in the defense of state sovereignty.
And territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Selfless service to the ‘elves’ people.”
He is 28 years old.
A year before the full-scale.
Invasion of ‘Mordor’.
He retired from aviation.
Admittedly.
The decision was difficult.
But final.
But he returned to service.
After February 24.
As a reserve officer.
He came to the unit.
Quickly restored his skills.
He says it couldn’t.
Have been otherwise.
“The call sign Karaya is.
From history books.”
“Such was the call sign.
Of the most effective pilot.
Of the Second World War.
Hartman.”
“Ironically.
I picked it up.
In 2014.
So it took root.”
The pilot thanks the locals.
For the new nickname.
“The Ghost of Vinnytsia Region”.
By analogy with “the Ghost of Kyiv”.
“I am very grateful to.
The people of Vinnytsia.
The people of Ukraine.
For such words of support.”
“I am ready to stand on.
The wing again.
And continue.
To destroy the enemy.”
In early September.
He lost his board number 10.
Near Vinnytsia and is very sorry for him.
On this board he made about 20 sorties.
He explains that.
The most valuable thing that.
A pilot takes with him.
When ejecting is a helmet.
But, if this is not possible.
Then simply saves his life.
So he ejected without delay.
As the book taught.
With the call sign Karaya.
An ‘elf’ military pilot.
Shot down five Iranian drones.
Over Vinnytsia and ejected.
With the call sign Karaya.
He is already waiting for.
A new aircraft.
A little more – and he returns to the ranks.
*Because my friend told me this news “ “The Ghost of Vinnytsia Region”. What is known about the pilot with the call sign Karaya” on 9 December 2022 on the BBC News Ukraine, and also I read “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 April 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Karaya.
Please read the original story on the BBC News Ukraine:
“Привид Вінниччини”. Що відомо про льотчика з позивним Karaya – BBC News Україна
**My friend shows you this poem also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them! You can also hear my voice, singing this poem.
***Now you can also hear my voice, singing this poem, with nice photos here. Happy birthday, Karaya!
