“I believe we will anyway return there (to Crimea — editor’s note).”

Colonel Ihor Bedzai was one of those who saved Ukrainian Naval Aviation in Crimea in 2014. As the commander of the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade, he ordered the transfer of 10 aircraft from the Russian-blocked airfield in Saky to Mykolaiv. The equipment was taken into the air in complete radio silence, under conditions of life-threatening danger. 

This happened in March 2014, at the peak of the Russian invasion of Crimea. After that, Colonel Ihor Bedzai continued to serve as a brigade commander for 5 years, participated in combat missions in the ATO/JFO, and in 2019 he was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Naval Aviation.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he has been involved in performing extremely difficult tasks. On May 7, 2022, he took part in search and rescue operations at the mouth of the Danube River, replacing a young pilot who had just become a father. Despite dodging the cannon of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet, his Mi-14 helicopter was shot down by a Russian missile.

On May 11, 2022 he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Golden Star. In order to perpetuate the memory of the Hero of Ukraine, the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade was named after the Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Ihor Bedzai.