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Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Killed Repelling Largest Russian Air Attack of War
Kyiv,

A Ukrainian Air Force F-16 pilot was killed overnight while intercepting an unprecedented wave of Russian missile and drone strikes targeting multiple Ukrainian cities. Military officials confirmed that Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, 32, died during the intense aerial battle after his aircraft was critically damaged in combat.

The attack, described by Ukraine’s military as the largest since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, involved over 500 aerial threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and Iranian-made Shahed drones. The onslaught targeted cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Cherkasy. Ukrainian air defense forces reportedly intercepted a majority of the threats, preventing what could have been catastrophic damage.

Ustymenko was flying one of Ukraine’s recently deployed F-16 fighter jets, part of a much-anticipated delivery from Western allies aimed at modernizing Ukraine’s air capabilities. According to Air Force command, he managed to destroy at least seven enemy targets during the operation. Witnesses and radar data indicated that his aircraft sustained irreparable damage during the final stages of the mission. In his last moments, he maneuvered the jet away from populated areas to avoid civilian casualties, but was unable to eject in time.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Ustymenko’s actions, calling him a “hero who gave his life defending the skies of Ukraine.” The president reiterated calls for additional air defense systems and expedited F-16 deliveries.

This marks the third loss of an F-16 pilot in Ukraine since the aircraft entered active service in late 2024. The night’s bombardment left significant damage across several regions, injured dozens, and further strained Ukraine’s already pressured defense infrastructure. Recovery and damage assessment operations are ongoing.

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