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. 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.
Russia launched the ‘biggest aerial attack’ since the start of the war
This was Russia's largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, launching more than 500 drones and missiles in a single night, Associated Press reported citing a Ukrainian official.
According to Ukraine’s air force, the barrage included 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were shot down, while 226 are believed to have been neutralised through electronic jamming.
{{/usCountry}}According to Ukraine’s air force, the barrage included 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were shot down, while 226 are believed to have been neutralised through electronic jamming.
{{/usCountry}}“This was the most massive air strike,” said Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, in a statement to AP. He said the attack included a wide range of aerial weapons and struck multiple regions across Ukraine, including areas in the west that are far from the frontlines.
Explosions were reported in several regions, including Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy, according to regional governors.
Pilot downed seven targets, killed while stopping the last
The Ukrainian air force said the pilot shot down seven air targets during the 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.
The strike is part of what Kyiv says is an intensifying bombing campaign by Moscow, which has further weakened hopes of a resolution to the war now entering its third year.