Jun 29, 2025 12:26 PM IST
A Ukrainian pilot was killed and an F-16 fighter jet was lost during a major Russian missile and drone attack, the Kyiv military said.
A Ukrainian pilot died and an F-16 fighter jet was lost while defending against a large Russian missile and drone attack at night, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday, reported news agency Reuters.
Russia carried out a massive overnight air assault on western, southern, and central Ukraine, using hundreds of drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, local authorities said on Sunday. The attacks damaged homes and infrastructure and left at least six people injured.
According to the military, this is the third time an F-16 has been lost during the ongoing Russia Ukraine crisis.
Explosions were reported in several regions, including Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy, according to regional governors.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russian strikes targeted six different locations across the country. Moscow fired 477 drones and 60 missiles of various types, it said. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 211 drones and 38 missiles during the assault, the military added.
Pilot downed seven targets, killed while stopping the last
The Ukrainian air force said the pilot shot down seven air targets during Russia’s missile attack, but his aircraft was damaged while taking down the last one and began to lose altitude.
The Kyiv military added that the pilot did everything possible to steer the damaged F-16 away from a populated area but was unable to eject in time.
“The pilot used all of his onboard weapons and shot down seven air targets. While shooting down the last one, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude,” the Ukrainian air force said in a post on Telegram, reported Reuters.
