A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, recently supplied by NATO allies, has been destroyed during a massive Russian missile attack. The crash, which took place on Monday, resulted in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mes. Ukrainian military sources confirmed to the BBC that this marks the first loss of an F-16 since the aircraft were delivered earlier this month.
Although the Ukrainian military states that the crash was not caused by a direct enemy missile strike, the pilot reportedly managed to destroy three cruise missiles and one drone during Russia’s largest aerial assault to date.
In a social media statement, the Ukrainian Air Force praised the late Oleksiy Mes for saving countless lives at the cost of his own. While the statement did not specify the aircraft type, military sources identified it as an F-16.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Tuesday that these U.S.-made F-16 jets are now being deployed to intercept Russian drones and missiles. Zelensky also urged Ukraine’s allies to permit the use of long-range missiles for deeper strikes into Russian territory.
The Netherlands has pledged to supply Ukraine with 24 F-16 jets, in addition to other weapons, with no restrictions on their use beyond compliance with humanitarian law. This contribution is part of the 65 F-16s promised by NATO countries since U.S. President Joe Biden authorized their delivery in August 2023.
The destruction of the F-16 is a significant setback for President Zelensky, who plans to present a “victory plan” to President Biden next month. Zelensky also disclosed that Ukraine had successfully tested a domestically-produced ballistic missile, though further details were not provided.