A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet pilot was killed while defending the country against a massive overnight missile and drone barrage launched by Russia, Ukraine’s military reported on Sunday.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the pilot successfully downed seven Russian air targets using all onboard weaponry. However, while intercepting the final target, the jet sustained critical damage and began to lose altitude. The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from a populated area but was unable to eject in time, resulting in his death.
This marks the third F-16 jet lost by Ukraine since acquiring the Western-built fighter jets.
The scale of the attack was immense, with Russia launching 477 drones and 60 missiles of various types overnight. Ukrainian defense forces responded effectively, destroying 211 drones and 38 missiles, though airstrikes were still recorded in at least six different locations.
In related developments, Ukraine’s Air Force announced it had shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet on June 7 in the Kursk direction.
Additionally, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) recently carried out a major drone strike on a Russian airbase, damaging or destroying more than 40 military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, often used by Russia to launch long-range missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The intensified aerial warfare underscores the growing importance of air dominance in the ongoing conflict, with both sides suffering heavy equipment and personnel losses.
