Animated film honors first Ukrainian F-16 pilot Oleksii 'Moonfish' Mes
The first episode of a new animated series, Traveling Book: Heroes, was released in Ukraine on Aug. 6, dedicated to Oleksii "Moonfish" Mes — the first pilot to fly an F-16 fighter jet in Ukrainian skies.
On August 6, Ukraine debuted an animated series called Traveling Book: Heroes, which pays tribute to Oleksii Moonfish Mes, the first Ukrainian pilot to fly an F-16 fighter jet. Moonfish, a decorated Air Force colonel and a Hero of Ukraine, secured the nickname "Moonfish" long before his historic role. In 2022, he collaborated with pilot Andrii "Juice" Pilshchykov to secure modern fighter jets for Ukraine from international partners.
Following the decision to provide Ukraine with advanced aircraft, Moonfish led the initial group of pilots who underwent a year of training in the United States. As soon as the F-16s reached Ukrainian skies, Moonfish became the first pilot to engage in combat, completing numerous missions and downing multiple targets. Tragically, on August 26, 2024, Moonfish lost his life while defending Ukrainian airspace against a combined Russian missile and drone assault.
His wife, Yuliia Mes, played a significant role in the film's production, providing authentic details and memories of her husband. The animated feature aimed to honor not only Moonfish's heroism but also his personal life, dreams, and the everyday moments cut short by war. The Traveling Book: Heroes series focuses on heroes from Russia's war against Ukraine, honoring their sacrifice to build a culture of remembrance among future generations.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
