medal after single-handedly taking down a Russian fighter jet with just his rifle. The State Border Service of Ukraine described Valeriy Fedorovych as a "pensioner" today (Friday, August 19) when they announced he had been awarded a medal "for assistance in the protection of the state border".
Fedorovych reportedly pulled off the heroics in Chernihiv in March, when the northern city was being bombarded by Vladimir Putin's forces. READ MORE: Brit who fought Saddam and Taliban saves 3,000 animals including 600kg bear from UkraineThe plane he managed to down was a Russian Su-34 fighter, a twin-engine medium-range bomber.Today's statement from Ukrainian officials read: "In March, when the Russian occupiers continuously bombarded Chernihiv, pensioner Valery Fedorovych took his rifle and opened fire. "The enemy fighter Su-34 was targeted and destroyed.
The plane fell, and our hero received the medal 'For assistance in the protection of the state border'."They did not disclose his exact age.
Ukrainian officials also interviewed Fedorovych in a short video, discussing what happened on the day. He appeared with his rifle slung over his shoulder, walking through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Chernihiv.
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