Ukrainian mother talks about her ‘grief and shame’ because her son is a Russian fighter pilot who bombed her country but was shot down and captured in Nikolaev
- Elena Golovenskaya could not stand it, expressing horror with her son’s act
- Major Aleksey Golovensky, a naval pilot who allegedly attacked Ukraine
- His Su-30SM was reportedly shot down over Nikolaev by Ukrainians on 5 March.
- Golovensky was taken prisoner and appeared at a press conference on Friday
A tearful Ukrainian mother spoke of her “grief and shame” as she denounced her son, a Russian fighter pilot who was shot down for “bombing” her country.
Elena Golovenskaya broke down when she spoke of her horror at the fact that her son, Major Alexei Golovensky, allegedly attacked her native Ukraine.
In a video message released by the Ukrainian military, she said she felt “grief and shame” and apologized to fellow countrymen for her son’s actions.
Oleksiy was reportedly shot down near Nikolaev in southern Ukraine on March 5 while flying his Su-30SM fighter jet.
He reportedly told his captors that he had flown in from the Crimea, where he was on “reconnaissance” missions for the Moscow Air Force.
Elena Golovenskaya (pictured) broke down as she spoke of her horror that her son, Major Aleksey Golovensky, allegedly attacked her native Ukraine
According to the footage released by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Aleksei was shot down on March 5 near Nikolaev in southern Ukraine while flying his Su-30SM fighter.
Footage released by the Ukrainian military over the weekend shows a stranded pilot named Golovensky surrendering on his knees in a field.
He was later questioned and appeared before a press conference by Ukraine’s national news agency Interfax on Friday.
Ms Golovenskaya said her son is a Russian naval aviation pilot stationed in the city of Saki in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Ms Golovenskaya (pictured) said her son is a Russian naval aviation pilot stationed in the city of Saki in Russian-occupied Crimea.
On the video, she explained: “On March 5, 2022, following the criminal orders of the command of the Russian army, he flew to Nikolaev. He was shot down by Ukrainian air defense and taken prisoner.
In the video, she explained: “On March 5, 2022, on the criminal order of the command of the Russian army, I flew to Nikolaev.”
“He was shot down by Ukrainian air defense and taken prisoner. We learned about this news from the media, watching a report about the downed pilots, ”she added.
“I was overwhelmed with grief and shame for my son, we repeatedly heard the terrible howl of air raid sirens in Kremenchug.
“It was difficult for me to understand how it was possible to fulfill the commander’s criminal order to bombard Ukraine.
“Naturally, I’m worried about my son. After captivity, thank God, he survived.
“I apologize to the Ukrainian people and I apologize for my son and for myself that I could not raise a normal, worthy person.”