This is what the side of the commander's car of the commander of the anti-aircraft missile unit, lieutenant colonel Kyryl Peretyatka, looks like.
He is an ace of anti-aircraft battles. With his team, he launched 145 missiles and destroyed 139 targets. These are Kh-101, Kh-55, Kh-555 and Kalibr cruise missiles and attack unmanned aerial vehicles.
Kirill fought his hardest and most effective battle in the area of responsibility of the "West" Air Command in the summer of 2023.
"It was a massive Russian air and missile attack," says the rocket operator. - First, the enemy hit the cover object with twelve Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles. We shot down 9 missiles, another was destroyed by a mobile fire group. Immediately after that, the Russians struck with twelve "Shahed-131/136" attack UAVs. These drones entered the object from different directions. We destroyed 10 unmanned aerial vehicles. There are two more mobile fire groups. Along with the drones, another 4 Calibers entered. We also destroyed all 4 missiles. The Russians then fired cruise missiles from their strategic bombers. We managed to reload our launchers and destroyed 12 more air-launched cruise missiles. Only after that our anti-aircraft battle ended. Was it dangerous for us? So. But during combat work, you don't pay attention to it. You are guided by cold, emotionless reasoning, you focus only on completing the assigned task. Only when everything ends, when the level of adrenaline in the blood decreases, you begin to realize what threats and risks there were just now. Then comes an incredible loss of strength, physical and emotional exhaustion.
For his personal courage and heroism, shown in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people, the President of Ukraine awarded Kyril Peretyatka the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Golden Star order.
In the photo of the anti-aircraft gunner near the car, you can clearly see the fatigue on Kirill's face.
- We never know where we will be tomorrow and when the anti-aircraft battle will begin, - says the officer. - We spend weeks and months in the fields. We protect important objects from air strikes in all regions of our country. We often change positions and perform rapid marches for hundreds of kilometers. But we have enough strength, will, desire and ability to fight to defeat and expel the occupiers from our heaven and earth.
Kyrylo Peretyatko says he wants to achieve another important personal goal on the battlefield.
- I have to destroy the occupiers' plane. My unit deserves to see a Russian killer pilot knocked down by his helmet on the ground, says the commander. - These vultures will be punished for all their misdeeds.
Communications Department of the West Air Command
