He Defended Kyiv's Sky and Died at His Combat Post on the First Day of the Invasion: Family and Community Ask to Award Colonel Kuzmyn the Title of Hero of Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Colonel Viktor Kuzmyn was at his combat position on the Luhansk front. He was killed in a missile strike, but saved his subordinates. His wife Viktoria submitted a petition to the President of Ukraine requesting that her husband be posthumously awarded the country's highest state honor — Hero of Ukraine.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
April 6, 2026 · 2 min read
A Man Who Chose This Path While Still in School
Viktor Vyacheslavovych Kuzmin was born on September 26, 1980, in the village of Sudilkiv in Khmelnytsky region. He chose military service while still in school. In 1997, he enrolled at the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv Military University. After graduation, as one of the best students in the "S-200 Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems" course, he was assigned to the 96th Kyiv Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade.
Twenty-Five Years Protecting the Skies
During his service, Kuzmin repeatedly demonstrated high professionalism. In 2014, he took command of the S-300 air defense system unit, which in 2017 became the best air defense missile unit of the Air Command "Center." In 2018, he was appointed commander of a group of air defense missile battalions. In 2021, he graduated with honors from the Ivan Chernyakhovsky National University of Defense of Ukraine.
Under his leadership, a combat crew for the S-300 complex was formed, which from the first days of the full-scale invasion took up positions to protect the airspace of Kyiv and Kyiv region.
The Last Months and Last Day
In the three months before the invasion, Kuzmin commanded an air defense unit in the Joint Forces Operation zone in Svativо, Luhansk region — the unit became one of the best in the operation zone.
On February 24, 2022, he met the enemy at his combat post. During a missile attack on his position, he was killed, but thanks to his decisions and actions, part of the unit managed to escape the strike. At the cost of his own life, he saved his subordinates.
"His deed is an example of the highest officer honor, self-sacrifice, and unconditional devotion to Ukraine."
– from the petition text
Awards Exist. The Main One Is Still Missing
By Presidential Decree of March 13, 2022, Viktor Kuzmin was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree (posthumously). By Decree of August 5, 2022, he was awarded the Presidential Award "For the Defense of Ukraine" (posthumously). In October 2023, he was posthumously awarded the rank of colonel.
The title of Hero of Ukraine has not yet been conferred.
Appeal to the President
Viktor's wife Viktoriia Kuzmina submitted a petition to the Office of the President of Ukraine requesting that Colonel Viktor Vyacheslavovych Kuzmin be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. The petition was published on April 3, 2026.
You can support the petition at the following link: petition.president.gov.ua/petition/262850
Viktor left behind his wife and two children. Viktoriia continues the work of his life.
