Russia Ukrainian F-16 pilot dies in massive air strike
According to military reports, the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet was killed during a mission against what are probably the most numerous Russian airstrikes in Ukraine since the start of the war. The lieutenant colonel had been fending off Russian attacks during the night when the bomber was hit, the Ukrainian air force announced in the morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky expressed his condolences to the relatives and ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the death.
29.06.2025, 09:29
29.06.2025, 10:53
SDA
The pilot had shot down seven targets himself and then, after hitting his plane, did everything he could to steer it away from a residential area. However, the officer, who was born in 1993, then failed to catapult himself out of the fighter jet.
For Ukraine, these pilots trained in the West are of great importance in the fight against the Russian war of aggression that has been going on for more than three years. So far, losses in the F-16 squadrons have been comparatively rare.
Highest number of Russian airstrikes to date
Russia fired more than 500 drones, missiles and cruise missiles at Ukraine during the night, the air force announced. The total number of 537 such attacks was the highest since the start of the war, reported media in Ukraine. There were again casualties and serious damage to civilian infrastructure. In the Cherkassy region, a residential building was hit in the town of Smila, the authorities reported. One child was injured there.
President Selensky reiterated his demands to exert more international pressure on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in order to end the war. In the past week alone, Russia has attacked with 114 missiles, more than 1270 drones and almost 1100 glide bombs. "Putin has long since decided to continue fighting - despite appeals for peace from all over the world," said Selenskyj according to a message on his Telegram channel. He also reiterated that Ukraine needed to strengthen its air defenses and was prepared to buy air defence systems from the USA in particular.
