Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Killed in Russian Airstrike

A Ukrainian F-16 pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, 31, was killed while defending Ukraine from a large Russian air attack. His fighter jet was damaged during an operation to intercept Russian missiles and drones. Ustymenko destroyed seven enemy air targets before his aircraft sustained critical damage. He managed to steer his jet away from populated areas but was unable to eject in time. The attack on June 29 involved 537 air targets, including drones and missiles from various regions. Ukrainian air defenses were activated, and as of 8:30 a.m., Ukrainian forces had destroyed or neutralized 475 enemy targets. Debris from downed targets was recorded in at least eight locations, while six regions reported active air attacks. The missile attack lasted nearly three hours, while the drone assault continued for almost 10 hours.

Ustymenko is the third Ukrainian F-16 pilot to die in combat since Ukraine introduced the Western fighter jets into its arsenal last year. The first fatality occurred on August 26, 2024, and another pilot was killed in April 2025. Ukrainian pilots continue to carry out dangerous missions under constant risk as Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its third year, shows no sign of ending.

According to the source: Kyiv Post.