Andrii Pilshchykov

He was qualified the 2nd Class pilot and flew Mikoyan MiG-29s during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pilshchykov was awarded the Order for Courage (3rd class) in May 2022, and posthumously promoted to the rank of major.

Born in Kharkiv, Pilshchykov spent his school years at the.

As a teenager, Pilshchykov was interested in aviation and often visited local airfields.

Andrii Borysovych Pilshchykov (Андрій Борисович Пільщиков; 3 February 1993 – 25 August 2023) was a Ukrainian fighter pilot with the call sign "Juice" (Джус) and a captain in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force.

On 24 May 2008, Pilshchykov uploaded his first aircraft spotting photo to Ukrainian Spotter's Site with a comment: “Sorry for quality - there was nothing but a mobile phone at hand:(”. Until 26 September 2020, he contributed 705 photos from all around Ukraine and other countries he visited and accelerated aircraft spotting movement in Kharkivshyna. Since 2011, Andrii has been listed on Ukrainian Spotter's Site as a content editor and one of the forum admins.

Pilshchykov took to the sky for the first time on Lilienthal X-32-912 Bekas ultralight aircraft with a pilot of Ukrainian community organization the "Civil Air Patrol" (Kharkiv).

In 2011, Pilshchykov enrolled in Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University, graduating in 2018.

While a cadet, Pilshchykov taught classes and organized field trips for the "Civil Air Patrol".

On 16–29 July 2011, Pilshchykov took part in a multinational exercise the "Safe Skies 2011" at Myrhorod Air Base, where he for the first time saw F-16s.

He was collaborated with the team of the "Wingmen for Ukraine", an American 501(c)(3) organization created under the name the "Stop the War in Europe" by Anastasiia Armey and her husband, Maj. Drew Armey, a reservist pilot of the 144th Fighter Wing, together with author Adam Makos and Lt. Col. Jonathan "Jersey" Burd, a retired pilot of the 194th Fighter Squadron, who helped to train and strengthen Ukrainian Air Force since 2013.

On 19 April 2016, Pilshchykov made his first solo flight in a MiG-29 fighter jet after a five-year training program.

On 8–19 October 2018, Pilshchykov took part in the international exercise Clear Sky 2018 at the Starokostiantyniv Air Base.

In winter 2018, Pilshchykov graduated and was assigned to the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Vasylkiv Air Base.

In September 2019, Pilshchykov traveled to California, where he completed an internship at the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard, where he flew an F-15.

At that time, his American friends gave him the call sign "Juice" because he would not drink alcoholic beverages during joint training exercises, preferring juice instead.

"“During a break between flights, we went to a pizzeria in our flight suits, made an order, and when it was delivered, the waiter said: “The bill has already been taken care of.” Andrii asked: “How, by whom?” And he saw a man, a veteran, at the next table. He [veteran] said: “God bless America! Thank you for defending our country in the air.” This attitude was quite unusual. It was even more unusual when the patrol police stopped by the cafe and the American pilots paid for the police officers’ order, saying: “Thank you for protecting our families while we protect America.” Andrii saw how pilots, military pilots, are treated in America, and he tried to do everything he could to make sure that pilots in Ukraine were treated the same way.”" For some time, Pilshchykov was the only pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with an official call sign.

In 2021, Pilshchykov left the Air Force.

In a resignation letter he added a long detailed list of Air Force's organizational issues as the reasons for his decision.

At the time the Ukrainian Air Force had no any interest to do anything to keep pilots interested in continuous service.

In February 2022, from the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion, Pilshchykov decided not to wait for mobilization and returned to the Air Force.

Initially he took part in securing airfields, but later resumed flights to defend Ukraine's skies.

He participated in the air defense of Kyiv and other territories.

Beginning in March 2022, “Juice” gave several live interviews to CNN in between sorties, without disclosing his name and wearing either a helmet or a bandana over his mouth.

By 7 May 2022, Pilshchykov had 500 hours of combat flight time.

By his death, Andrii participated in more than 100 combat flights and destroyed dozens of Russian command posts.

On 2 June 2023, he and fellow pilot Vladyslav Savieliev (call sign "Nomad") completed a successful combat mission in the east, launching HARM missiles from their MiG-29s.

Andrii Pilshchykov died on the evening of 25 August 2023, along with two other pilots, Major Viacheslav Minka and Major Serhii Prokazin, when their two L-39M1 trainer planes 2023 Zhytomyr Oblast L-39 collision performing a whifferdill turn maneuver during dogfight training near Sinhury, Zhytomyr Oblast.

His death was reported by CNN, and widely covered in Ukrainian media, which published full archive photographs where his face can be seen.

On 26 August 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine mentioned Pilshchykov's death in an address.

During his service in the Air Force, Pilshchykov advocated for the need to promote the Air Force's work in the media with high-quality photos and videos.

According to Yurii Ihnat, the spokesman for the Air Force, Pilshchikov actively took part in modernizing the Air Force's public affairs work and was involved in official communication with foreign media thanks to his good English and deep knowledge of aviation.

Pilshchykov was mentioned as an authoritative reference on challenges faced by the Ukrainian Air Force and the need to supply F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

In interviews with The Washington Post, the Financial Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC News, he called on Western partners to provide Ukraine with modern fighter jets.

In June 2022, Pilshchykov visited the US with another Ukrainian pilot, call sign Moonfish, to lobby for F-16s for Ukraine.

Sean Penn joined Pilshchykov and Moonfish to help their advocacy efforts.

The pilots met with US lawmakers to discuss modern weapons systems needed in Ukraine.

Juice and Moonfish met with Adam Kinzinger in his office in Washington, D.C. As a result of that meeting, Adam Kinzinger introduced the "Ukraine Fighter Pilots Act" to the United States House of Representatives on 17 June 2022.

The bill was cosponsored by Chrissy Houlahan, Ted Lieu, Susan Wild, Tom Malinowski, Abigail Spanberger and Mike Levin.

Pilshchykov was involved in the coordination of aid supply of equipment for Ukrainian pilots of the Air Force, the Army Aviation and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and he donated his own money to provide helicopters pilots with modern helmets.