On June 16, 2026, at 19:05 in the Shepetivka district of Khmelnytsky region, a Sukhoi Su-24M front-line bomber from the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franko crashed. Both crew members perished — Major Bohdan Zahorulko, 55 years old, an experienced test pilot from Antonov, and Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Babenko, 23 years old.
What has been established so far
According to the investigation, this sortie was already the aircraft's second of that day. Neither before the first nor before the second sortie did the technical personnel of the military unit record any remarks about the condition of the aircraft. All service documentation was completed in accordance with established requirements.
As reported by UNN citing the SBI, the investigation conducted dozens of interviews — including with the families of the deceased, commanders, and fellow service members. Molecular-genetic expertise officially confirmed the identities of both pilots.
"It has been confirmed that the pilots were performing a combat mission, details of which have been provided to the investigation. At the same time, in the interests of national security, this information is not being disclosed."
State Bureau of Investigation
Reports of ejection — refuted
Immediately after the tragedy, information spread on the internet claiming that one of the pilots had ejected. The SBI officially refuted this: according to the investigation, these reports "do not correspond to reality." This is a crucial point — the version about a possible survival of one crew member would represent a different criminal scenario.
Parallel investigations
The case is being investigated simultaneously by several structures:
- SBI — criminal proceedings for violations of flight rules or flight preparation procedures;
- Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — its own service investigation;
- Ministry of Defense — departmental commission to establish the technical causes of the crash.
After completion of the Air Force service investigation, an independent aviation-technical expert examination will be appointed. Decryption of the flight data recorder, removed on June 17, is ongoing.
Two pilots — two paths to aviation
Before his service in the Air Force, Bohdan Zahorulko worked at Antonov — an enterprise where civilian and transport aircraft are tested. Bohdan Babenko, according to the mayor of Bohodukhiv in Kharkiv region, was "confidently pursuing his dream" even while studying at the lyceum. He was mobilized in 2019, while Zahorulko was mobilized on the first day of the full-scale invasion, February 24, 2022.
A 32-year age difference between the pilots — and the same first name. Both died while performing a combat mission, the details of which the investigation received but has no right to disclose.
The key question remains unanswered: if the technical condition of the aircraft raised no concerns before both sorties that day — what will the flight data recorder reveal about the final minutes of the second flight?
