A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot was killed while defending the nation during one of the most intense Russian aerial attacks in recent months, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The assault, which involved hundreds of drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles, underscores Moscow's increasing night-time air strikes as the war enters its fourth year.
President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously honoured the pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, with the title of Hero of Ukraine, the country’s highest distinction. Praising Ustymenko’s bravery, Zelensky renewed calls for urgent air defence assistance from the United States and Western allies.
"This war must be brought to an end — pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection," Zelensky said in a statement on X, stressing Ukraine's need for advanced air defence systems. “Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence — the thing that best protects lives.”
The overnight assault left widespread destruction in its wake. Residential buildings, critical infrastructure, and public facilities were damaged across multiple regions, with at least 12 civilians injured, including two children. Air raid sirens echoed across Kyiv, forcing families to shelter in metro stations, while explosions and gunfire were reported in cities including Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.
Authorities in the western Lviv region, bordering Poland, confirmed that critical infrastructure was targeted during the strikes.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Ustymenko successfully engaged enemy targets, shooting down seven air threats during the assault. His aircraft, however, sustained critical damage while neutralising the final target. "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 Air Force reported. Tragically, Ustymenko was unable to eject in time and succumbed to the crash.
This marks the third loss of an F-16 fighter jet since Ukraine began deploying the US-made aircraft last year. Kyiv has yet to disclose the full size of its F-16 fleet, though the aircraft plays a vital role in Ukraine’s air defence operations.
Military experts have cautioned that while F-16s are effective against high-speed aerial threats, they are less suited to counter the drone swarms that frequently target Ukrainian cities.
Zelensky highlighted Ustymenko’s distinguished service, noting his participation in Ukraine’s defence since 2014, when hostilities with Russian-backed separatists erupted in the Donbas region. "He mastered four types of aircraft and had important results to his name in defending Ukraine," Zelensky stated. "It is painful to lose such people."
According to Ukraine’s military, Russia launched an unprecedented 477 drones and 60 missiles in the latest attack. Ukrainian air defence units successfully intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles, with additional drones either neutralised through electronic warfare or identified as decoys carrying no explosives.
The scale of Russia's offensive remains staggering. Zelensky noted that Moscow had fired approximately 114 missiles, 1,270 drones, and 1,100 glide bombs at Ukraine within the past week alone.
Meanwhile, Russia reported casualties on its side, with state-run RIA Novosti claiming a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region. Both nations maintain they do not deliberately target civilians.
The escalating air campaign has fuelled Ukraine's plea for renewed Western military support. Under President Donald Trump, the US has yet to commit to additional aid, though Trump acknowledged during last week's NATO summit that Ukraine’s request for more Patriot missile defence systems is under consideration.
Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine is prepared to purchase American air defence platforms but requires the political will and decisive support from the United States, Europe, and international partners to safeguard its sovereignty.
Rescue operations continued Sunday across impacted regions. In Cherkasy, three residential buildings and a college sustained damage, with 11 civilians injured. In Ivano-Frankivsk, one woman was wounded as explosions shook the area.
Ukrainian authorities warn that without enhanced air defences, Russia's intensifying aerial campaign will continue to inflict devastating human and infrastructural losses.
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