Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The body of Ukrainian fighter pilot surfaces in the sea near Tsarevo

Colonel Mykhailo Matyushenko was buried in Bucha
Photo: glavcom.ua

The body of a Ukrainian fighter pilot surfaced in the sea near Bulgaria’s Tsarevo in September, the Regional Police Directorate in Burgas has announced.

Because of the long time the body spent in the water it was difficult to identify. After the Ukrainian air forces were contacted, he was identified by the service number on his metal tag, which was highly oxidized.

The pilot is 61-year old Colonel Mykhailo Matyushenko, the doyen of Ukraine’s air force, known by the call sign “Did” (Grandpa). He was shot down on 26 June in an aerial battle over the Black Sea. The body has been returned and was buried in Bucha near Kyiv on 4 October. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Open doors day in Sofia Library on Librarian Day

The Sofia Library will celebrate Librarian's Day, May 9, with an Open Doors Day, the organizers announced. A literary reading with a musical program will be held on Slaveykov Square. The library will show visitors two photo-documentary exhibitions...

published on 5/9/25 5:55 AM

Sunny but cooler weather

Friday will be mostly sunny but windy. Cloud cover will increase from the south-west in the afternoon, with rain spreading across most of the country in the evening and continuing overnight. Minimum temperatures will range between 7°C and 12°C, around..

published on 5/8/25 7:05 PM

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov: Bulgaria meets all criteria for the eurozone

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has highlighted the stability of public finances as a key element on the country's path to Eurozone membership. Speaking to Vice President of the Europe and Central Asia Region at the World Bank, Antonella Bassani,..

published on 5/8/25 6:12 PM