Oleksiy Mesi

Oleksiy Mesi, known by his call sign 'Munfish,' was a Ukrainian pilot who tragically lost his life in an F-16 crash during a mission on August 26, 2024, amid ongoing conflicts involving Russian aggression. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star by President Volodymyr Zelensky for his bravery and dedication to defending Ukraine's sovereignty. Mesi was among the first Ukrainian pilots to train on F-16 fighter jets, having undergone training in Denmark in the fall of 2023, marking a significant step in Ukraine's military aviation capabilities.