Sergii Prykhodko from Aviation Company Ukrainian helicopters received UN highest Peacekeeping Award posthumously

On Friday, June 5, a ceremony to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers was held at the UN headquarters in New York. At the event, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres posthumously awarded Ukrainian helicopters flight attendant Sergii Prykhodko the Captain Mbaye Diang Medal for Exceptional Courage. For the first time in the history, this medal was awarded to a civilian.

“No one should die in the service of peace. Attacks on peacekeepers are gross violations of international humanitarian law, and Member States must fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety and protection of UN personnel under all circumstances,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the ceremony.

The Award was received by Elyzaveta, Sergii Prykhodko’s 6-year-old daughter. She and the wife of the heroically deceased Ukrainian, Tetyana, arrived at the UN headquarters for the ceremony with the support of the Aviation Company Ukrainian helicopters.

Sergii Prykhodko (from Boryspil) worked for many years as a flight attendant-rescuer and instructor for AC Ukrainian helicopters. He participated in various complex civilian missions and saved many lives. None of the rescue operations shook his faith in people, his love for the profession, and did not turn him away from the sky. On the contrary, he dreamed of becoming a passenger airliner pilot - he managed to become a pilot of a light aircraft and continued his studies.

“Our Aviation Company  has been working in UN peacekeeping missions for over 20 years. We are committed to promoting peace in the world and  are proud of this. Sergii Prykhodko was one of the best our employees, and that is a great loss for our company. We have been supporting his family and his little daughter,