A monument to the Russian military pilot Vladimir Yedamenko, perished ed in August 2008, was unveiled in South Ossetia.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Republic's leadership, headed by President Alan Gagloev, representatives of the Russian Embassy and departments of the Republic.
"Yedamenko held the helm of his combat aircraft until the last second of his life and found peace in the fifth ocean. We must remember this hero who died for the land of South Ossetia, its future," Russian Ambassador to South Ossetia Marat Kulakhmetov said.
He also thanked the Russian Defense Ministry and the government of South Ossetia for their support in the construction of the obelisk.
President Alan Gagloev has noted that today a monument to one of Russia's brave warriors is being unveiled.
"The military pilot died a hero's death. It is our sacred duty to remember the heroism of all the defenders of South Ossetia and those who forced Georgia to peace. Their feat will forever remain in our memory and will be an example for the younger generation and people of the Кepublic," the President has emphasized.
Then representatives of еру ministries and departments laid flowers and wreaths at the monument.
On August 9, 2008, Major Vladimir Yedamenko was a flight commander, providing air cover for a tank column of Russian troops of the 58th Army in the armed conflict zone in South Ossetia.
In the Dzau area, at a low altitude, a flight of attack aircraft engaged in combat, presumably with two Georgian MiG-29s and simultaneously with еру enemy air defense systems. In order to escape the sights of the Georgian pilots, the Russian pilots had to maneuver.
At that time, the planes' instruments showed that they were in the sights of the Georgian air defense. Major Yedamenko's plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, presumably a Buk air defense system. The pilot diverted the burning Su-25 BM away from еру Russian tanks and еру nearby village, but ejected too late and died.
The wreckage of the plane fell near the village of Itrapis.
By еру decree of President of Russia dated September 5, 2008, Vladimir Yedamenko was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia. The Gold Star of Hero of Russia No. 918 was awarded to the pilot's widow, Marina Yedamenko.
In February 2019, President of the Republic of South Ossetia posthumously awarded Vladimir Yedamenko the highest state award, the Order of Uatsamongae, for courage and heroism shown during the military operation to force Georgia to peace in August 2008 (posthumously).
