A Ukrainian pilot tragically lost his life, and an F-16 fighter jet was downed while defending against a significant Russian missile and drone attack at night, as reported by the Ukrainian military on Sunday. This incident occurred during a large-scale air assault on western, southern, and central Ukraine, where hundreds of drones, along with cruise and ballistic missiles, were deployed. The attacks resulted in damage to homes and infrastructure, leaving at least six individuals injured.
Regional reports indicated explosions in several areas, including Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy. The Ukrainian military confirmed that Russian strikes targeted six different locations across the nation, with Moscow launching 477 drones and 60 missiles of various types. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles during this aggressive assault.
During the missile attack, the Ukrainian air force stated that the pilot managed to shoot down seven air targets. However, while engaging the last target, his aircraft sustained damage and began to lose altitude. Despite his efforts to steer the compromised F-16 away from populated areas, the pilot was unable to eject in time, leading to this tragic outcome.
