““Light at heart.” Hero of Ukraine Borys Horoshko rescued equipment at the airfields on the day of the invasion, and then led the Mi-8 to surrounded Mariupol December 21, 22:19 Share: Borys Horoshko was the commander of the Mi-8 crew that flew to Mariupol to help the defenders of the city (Photo: Illustrator Nataliya Nazarenko) Ammunition, medicines and food were brought there. The wounded defenders of the besieged city were evacuated from there. Seven sorties were made by Ukrainian pilots on the Mi-8”, — write on: ua.news
Borys Horoshko was the commander of the Mi-8 crew that flew to Mariupol to help the defenders of the city (Photo: Illustrator Natalia Nazarenko)
Ammunition, medicine and food were brought there. The wounded defenders of the besieged city were evacuated from there. Seven flights were made by Ukrainian Mi-8 pilots to Mariupol in March-April 2022. The Russians shot down two helicopters, and later another one, which went to help the downed one. Borys Horoshko was the commander of the Mi-8, which never completed its mission. He did not tell anyone that he was flying to occupied Mariupol. On August 23, 2024, Goroshka was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine (posthumously).
The story was prepared by the Memorial platform together with the Heart of Azovstal project specifically for NV. All stories from the cycle “Mission — Mariupol” can be read in a separate special project.
Author: Natalia Kulidi
Childhood
Borys Horoshko comes from Ternopil Oblast. His father was a pilot. The future Hero of Ukraine was born on August 31, 1984 in Spassk-Dalny (Russia). Within a year, the family moved to Germany, and within five – to Novy Kaliniv, a small town in the Lviv region that was spread around the military unit.
Running through the streets of Novy Kalinov, Boris met Ivan Partyka. He was several years younger and very active. And Boris is quiet, calm. The boys played basketball and football together. When they grew up, their paths diverged for a while.
Boris liked speed, when he was little he told his mother that he wanted to become a racer. But he followed in his father’s footsteps and after school entered the Kharkiv Air Force Institute. After graduating from the institution, he served for three years in the 301st anti-aircraft missile regiment. Then – in the 12th separate brigade of army aviation in Novy Kalinov in the position of chief of staff – deputy commander of a helicopter squadron.
When the war started in 2014, Ivan Partyka asked Novy Kaliniv to go to his native part. There he met a friend of his youth — Boris Horoshko. Since 2014, he has been a participant in hostilities. He received an award from the President of Ukraine for participation in an anti-terrorist operation and an order for loyalty to the people of Ukraine.
“Bor’s father is a pilot, so he also wanted to fly. He was a navigator for a long time, then a pilot-navigator of the first class. Responsible, diligent, such a bookworm. When I came to the headquarters, I did not understand this work, he taught me everything,” says Captain Ivan Partyka.
“At first glance, Boris Borisovych seemed calm and balanced. That’s what he was. He explained everything clearly, knew his job, and it was comfortable to work with him. He could convey any information,” recalls military serviceman Andriy, who has served in the Goroshka squadron since 2017.
Commander service
Boris shared the office with the squadron commander and his assistant, old friend Partyka. Boris’s desk is by the window, his friend’s is on the side, the manager’s is in the corner of the room.
— Ivanovich, can I start flying as a commander? asked Borys Komeska. I wanted to become a helicopter crew commander.
Ivan Partyka dissuaded his friend from this idea:
— Borka, you already have the first class navigator. Why should you become a commander? Now is the time to relax…
However, Borys Horoshko did not listen to his brothers. Began to study the commander’s program. This is a course with a list of exercises you need to do to become a helicopter pilot.
“Flying with goggles, with a winch, at night, landing, low altitude, extremely low, high altitude… It takes a year of intensive work to master everything. Several departures every week. Constant stress, then heat, then cold. That helicopter is like a minibus, only it flies. The equipment is old and heavy,” says Ivan.
But Borys Horoshko studied tirelessly. Although sometimes he complained to a friend about how exhausting it was. In the end, he graduated and became the commander of the Mi-8 crew.
“And his father served, and mine. We come from a small military town, we saw helicopters flying every day. What else did we all want?” – says Andrii.
Borys Horoshko participated in UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He shared his experience with Andrii. The younger brother decided to try himself in peacekeeping activities.
“When my father passed away, Boris helped in everything, resolved issues regarding the funeral. I went to Africa in 2021, just after my father’s death,” Andrii adds.
Before the full-scale invasion, Boris Goroshka had a daughter. He was very happy.
War
“Get up. It’s started,” Borys Horoshko called Ivan Partitsa with these words on the night of February 24, 2022. As military personnel, they knew that there would be a Russian offensive, but they did not believe.
Ivan went to the part where he met with Boris. He said: “Stay behind the elder, I’m taking out the helicopters.” The enemy could hit the airfield – the equipment had to be secured.
“I gave instructions to my brothers. He reported on the state of affairs, how much equipment was lost, what was left, what was gone. I just made a coffee, sat down at the desk, I hear a whistle – and what a bang. Arrival The table jumped up, he could barely hold the coffee,” Ivan recalls.
On the morning of February 24, Russian aggressors attacked military units in Kamianets-Buzka, Novo Kalinov and Brody.
After that day, the servicemen of the unit transported equipment that was transferred to the front: grenades, rockets, ammunition. Then they performed the task of destroying enemy columns.
“Nobody even knew about the first flights to Mariupol. It was a task from above – to save the soldiers. At first, ours flew there and flew out calmly. The occupiers did not even think that we would do this. Later, they already raised weapons that can be used to shoot down helicopters,” says Captain Partyka.
Goroshka’s brother Andriy was still in Africa at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. I spoke with Boris only by phone.
“He told me: “Everything is fine. Let’s do the work.” The last time we talked was sometime in March,” he shares.
The servicemen did not know in advance that they would fly to Mariupol, recalls Ivan Partyka. They received tasks that had to be completed in a few hours.
Borys Horoshko, as a helicopter commander, was supposed to fly to Mariupol for the first time on April 5. Weapons were to be delivered there, and the wounded were to be picked up on the way back. On board the Mi-8, together with Boris, there were two more crew members and an employee of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense.
The helicopters set off from the Dnipro in pairs, the first plane being the lead, the second being led, whose commander was Boris. It took longer than planned to unload Goroshka’s car in Mariupol, and the commander of the first one decided to fly without him.
The first helicopter reached Dnipro. And Goroshka’s crew did not return. Another ship went to help him. But contact with him was also lost.
– Did you hear? a colleague asked Ivan Partyka in the smoking room. — Some trouble happened with Borka.
“Something clicked for me right away… I realized that he was gone. But he hoped for something else for a long time. Borka often dreamed of me. Almost every day, he constantly wanted to hug me. I even turned to psychics and fortune tellers, asking where Boris was. They told me that my friend is alive and will come soon,” says the captain.
It was previously reported that Borys Goroshka’s helicopter was shot down by a missile.
“There was hope to the last that, maybe, in captivity, maybe he would appear. Until they brought him…” says Andriy.
Only in 2023, the body of Borys Horoshko was returned home.
Farewell
The defender was buried on July 21, 2023. Borys Goroshko was escorted to his native place together with flight technician Vyacheslav Sindy, who flew to Mariupol with him. The farewell ceremony was also held in the center of Lviv, in the garrison church of Peter and Paul. Several dozen people gathered to pay their respects to Boris Goroshka and paratrooper Volodymyr Yaremko, who died in 2023.
Boris was buried at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv.
“It was very simple with Boris. Light hearted. Even when he was angry, he spoke calmly. He had such a temperament that he did not show aggression or anger. That’s how I remembered him,” says Andrii.
During his lifetime, on March 29, 2022, Borys Horoshko was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree. This award is given to the defenders for the flawless performance of military and official duty, the bravery and honor shown at the same time. In December 2023, on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he was posthumously awarded an award for exceptional sacrifice and heroism – the “Honorary Badge of St. George”. This is the award of Lviv, which is given for outstanding services to the city.
On August 23, 2024, by decree of the President of Ukraine, Lt. Col. Borys Horoshko was awarded the highest degree of distinction for a remarkable heroic act — the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Order of the Golden Star.
““Kind, loving, honest, attentive, organized, caring, sincere, smart, brave, strong, smiling, positive, always ready to help others,” Olga’s wife remembers her husband.
Boris Goroshka is survived by a small daughter, mother, brother, sister and other relatives. This year, Aviation Day, which is celebrated on the last Saturday of August, fell on the 31st. It was on this day that Boris Horoshko would have turned 40 years old.