The President posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to the fallen F-16 pilot.

President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov. This was reported by 'Glavkom' referring to the official website of the head of state.

According to decree No. 232/2025, Pavlo Ivanovych was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the 'Golden Star' order.

The pilot received this award for his courage and heroism displayed in defending the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.

Famous photographers Kostyantyn and Vlada Liberov reported this, having published photos with the fallen pilot.

'Rest in peace, friend. Thank you for your protection. Thank you for the sky. The most painful memories upon returning home with the wrecked F-16 will be hidden,' the photographers wrote.

Let us remember that on April 12, pilot Pavlo Ivanov died while performing a combat mission on an F-16 aircraft.

An investigation into the F-16 fighter jet crash that occurred on August 26, 2024, resulting in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mesya, is ongoing.

'Within the framework of the criminal proceedings, 11 expert examinations are being conducted, including engineering-transport, military, forensic medical, computer-technical, and commodity examinations,' the State Bureau of Investigation reported.

Final conclusions regarding the causes of the crash and possible responsibility of officials will be made after all expert examinations and evidence analysis are completed.

In August 2024, a crash of the F-16 fighter jet occurred in Ukraine, resulting in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mesya. He shot down three enemy missiles and a drone during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine.

Analysis:

The news reports about the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov. It mentions the awarding for the heroism and courage of the pilot, who died while performing a combat mission. It also notes that an investigation into the crash of the F-16 fighter jet is ongoing, which occurred earlier and resulted in the death of another pilot. Details of the expert examinations and evidence analysis are also mentioned. This news highlights the recognition of the heroism and selflessness of military personnel, as well as the importance of investigating and establishing the causes of the crash to prevent similar tragedies in the future.