Heroes of Ukraine: "He will be my wings, and I will be his eyes" - widow of legendary pilot Oleksandr Korpan

Oleksandr was born and raised in Sevastopol, in a military family.  He would have turned 28 on September 8.  While defending his native land, the 27-year-old officer destroyed more than a hundred units of Russian enemy military equipment.  For his personal courage and heroism, he was posthumously awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine" with the "Golden Star" award.

Espreso will share the story about the pilot who loved the sky above all else and sacrificed his life for his brothers and Ukrainian civilians.

After the occupation of Crimea, he did not return to his hometown

Oleksandr Korpan loved to fly since childhood.  He grew up in a military family - his father was a flight engineer for 32 years.  Oleksandr himself entered the Sevastopol Naval Lyceum from the 9th grade, and later the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National University of the Air Force. His mother Nina remembers that her son was last at home in Sevastopol in 2014.

"For us, 2014 was a complete horror. That year, on January 9, Sashko left home while he was on vacation and never returned. It was a trauma for him and his relatives," the woman says.

As a child, Sashko learned to swim at the age of 6 and felt like a dolphin in the water. He also worked a lot with his father in the garden.  Mother instilled in her son a love of art.  He played the piano, although he was reluctant to mention it.  Oleksandr's wife Yuliya says that he did not agree to perform a single tune, even at their wedding, even though asked many times.

"There was a piano and I really asked him to play. And he answered me: "No way!  I will never sit down at the piano again." He never agreed, no matter how much Iasked. But in everything else we always found a common language. We planned everything together. Although we did not live together much, only two years, we got a lot of things together. We always went  to some goal. He used to write a list of what we had to do and ask: "Well, how are we going to do it?" And I always said that we would do it and everything would be fine. That's how it turned out - we were successful, we were happy  that we can do everything. But the war shattered our dreams," the woman says with tears.

Julia is running away from the war for the second time.  Previously, until 2014, she lived in the Donetsk region.  After the Russian attack, she came to Kharkiv, where she met her future husband.  She says that Oleksandr immediately conquered her with his determination.

"We met for the first time in 2017. Everything was very good, now they are such warm memories. He won me over with his determination and courage. He is also handsome with taste in everything! I was in a hurry for the first date, and he came with one rose in cellophane. I immediately wanted to go back. But we found out that he doesn't like it either, the seller wrapped it in cellophane because there was a strong wind. Sashko said that this flower looked "so-so", and I answered, "don’t mention it." So we joked about it in our family all the time, it was like a meme already. Then we got into the rain. He protected me from the rain and wind, and from spiders, which I am very afraid of. Our first date was  impressive for me, even then he was a hero for me," Yulia admits.

The wife says that Sashko had a great sense of humor and loved to joke.  And mother  Nina remembers how his  father told him: "Here, Sasha, when you grow up, there will be someone to serve us water. And he takes out a glass and says, "Drink now."

The war shattered the dreams of the baby

Oleksandr Korpan didn't talk much about his work, his wife was understanding about it.  The threat of a full-scale invasion was discussed, but Julia had no idea how serious it would be.

"Before the war started, we talked on the phone and he told me to pack an emergency suitcase just in case. At first I took it as a joke, but as a soldier's wife, I packed the most necessary things in a bag. And at 4 o'clock there was an explosion. I understood that the war had begun. We lived in Mykolaiv at the time. I know exactly what it is like, because in 2014 I had to leave the occupied territories. After the explosions, I called my husband, the phone was turned off. Later, he called back and told me that Russia had attacked Ukraine, so I should leave. I really didn't want to go anywhere and leave him, but my husband insisted. I never said goodbye to him before the war," Yulia adds.

The couple did not have time to have children, but always dreamed of a baby.  Yulia Korpan recalls how her late husband wanted their child to be born in the fall.

"Today, on the day of his birth, we should not look at the portrait on his grave, but rejoice at my pregnancy or the birth of a child," says the woman.

Died to save others

Oleksandr Korpan died on March 2, while returning from another combat sortie.  He performed a real feat by taking the plane engulfed in flames away from the airfield and at the cost of his own life saved the lives of his brothers and many civilian residents of Starokostyantynov.

"There was a threat of a missile attack and the guys were taking the planes into the air. They were all loaded with ammunition and fuel. I don't know what happened, but the plane caught fire. Instead of Sasha ejecting and saving his life, he saved the lives of other people. If the plane  fell there, many people would have died. I am more than sure that he would not have been able to come to terms with it morally. Therefore, he made the decision of a true warrior - he saved them, but died himself. We understand and accept his choice, but it does not make it easier for us.  It's a great loss because he was a wonderful person."

Oleksandr Korpan was friends with another Ukrainian hero-pilot Oleksandr Kukurba, who also died heroically in the battle with the Russian invaders.  Yuliya's wife admits that, despite the despair she feels after her husband's death, she learned resilience and courage from him, which helps her endure all the pain now.

"What keeps me going is that I'm doing something all the time. These can be very important things, but sometimes they are small. I try to live, I worry about my parents, I try to help those who need it. I do it for Sashka, because I know that he sees it  He will be my wings, and I will be his eyes," says the widow.

Oleksandr Korpan is buried in the city of Pidgaitsa in the Ternopil region, next to the graves of his relatives.  Oleksandr's mother, Mrs. Nina, says that in 2018, she took her father's ashes to her homeland for burial.  After the death of their son, they decided to bury him there themselves.

During his lifetime, Oleksandr Korpan was awarded departmental awards, including the commemorative badge of the Commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "Mastery, Honor, Courage", the honorary badge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "For Achievements in Military Service", the medal "10 years of conscientious service" .