Ukraine pilot killed, F-16 fighter jet lost in Russian drone and missile attack
A Ukrainian pilot was killed and his F-16 fighter jet lost while repelling a large-scale Russian nighttime missile and drone attack, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday (June 29, 2025).
It was the third such loss of an F-16 of the war, the military said.
"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 said on the Telegram messaging app.
It said the pilot did everything he could and flew the jet away from a settlement but did not have time to eject.
The military said Russia had launched 477 drones and 60 missiles of various types to Ukraine overnight and Ukrainian forces destroyed 211 drones and 38 missiles.
It said air strikes were recorded in six locations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Zelenskyy says ‘ready to buy' US air defence systems as Russia launches ‘biggest' airstrikes on Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United States and its allies to send more air defence systems after a Ukrainian F-16 pilot was killed during a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks. 'This war must be brought to an end pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection,' Zelenskyy said in a post on X. 'Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence the thing that best protects lives. These are American systems, which we are ready to buy.' He added, 'We count on leadership, political will, and the support of the United States, Europe, and all our partners.' Almost all night long, air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine — 477 drones were in our skies, most of them Russian-Iranian Shaheds, along with 60 missiles of various types. The Russians were targeting everything that sustains life. A residential building in Smila was also hit,… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2025 Zelenskyy said he had raised Ukraine's request for more Patriot missile batteries with President Donald Trump during a NATO summit earlier this month. The US has not announced any new military aid since Trump returned to office. The Ukrainian President's renewed call came after an overnight Russian barrage that involved 477 drones and 60 missiles. Ukraine's Air Force said 211 drones and 38 missiles were shot down. At least 12 people were injured, including two children in the Cherkasy region. Damage was reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Ivano-Frankivsk. One of the casualties was F-16 pilot Maksym Ustymenko. According to Ukraine's Air Force, he destroyed seven airborne targets before his jet was hit. '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 said in a statement quoted by Reuters. Zelenskyy confirmed the pilot's death in a separate message posted with video footage showing damage to civilian areas. 'Tragically, while repelling the attack, our F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, died. Today, he destroyed 7 aerial targets. My condolences to his family and brothers-in-arms,' he wrote. Russia has increased the frequency of large-scale airstrikes in recent weeks. Ukrainian officials said Moscow launched more than 1,270 drones, 114 missiles and 1,100 glide bombs over the past week alone. Russia's state-run RIA news agency said a Ukrainian drone killed one person in the Russian-held part of Luhansk. Both sides deny targeting civilians.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Zelenskyy set to pull Ukraine out of Ottawa Convention treaty: What is it?
More than 160 countries are parties to the treaty, including most Nato members and European states. Major powers like the United States, Russia, and China have not signed it read more President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (June 29) signed a decree initiating Ukraine's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention or the Mine Ban Treaty, citing the urgent demands of national defense amid Russia's ongoing invasion. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the decision was 'difficult but necessary,' describing it as a response to Russia's extensive use of landmines against both military personnel and civilians. 'I hereby decree… to put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine dated June 29, 2025 on Ukraine's withdrawal' from the landmark convention, Zelenskyy said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Russia… uses mines against our military and civilians on a massive scale. We cannot remain bound by conditions when the enemy has no restrictions,' a Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said on social media. What is the Ottawa Convention? The Ottawa Convention, formally known as the Mine Ban Treaty, is an international agreement that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Signed in 1997, it aims to eliminate weapons that often remain lethal long after conflicts end. Mines banned under the treaty are designed to explode when triggered by the presence, proximity, or contact of a person, causing indiscriminate harm. More than 160 countries are parties to the treaty, including most Nato members and European states. Major powers like the United States, Russia, and China have not signed it. Human rights organisations have condemned plans by Ukraine and several of its allies to exit the treaty. Critics warn that such withdrawals could weaken a decades-long global consensus to limit weapons that disproportionately harm civilians. Kyiv's decision comes after similar moves or considerations by Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — all of which share borders with Russia and cite heightened security threats as justification. Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko defended the move, saying, 'We cannot remain bound by conditions when the enemy has no restrictions.' With inputs from agencies
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
World War 3 fear is back! Russia fires over 500 drones, missiles, Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot killed, Kyiv seeks Donald Trump support, Poland scrambles aircraft
Russia-Ukraine war escalated again on Sunday as Moscow launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said today. Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot died in a crash while repelling a Russian air attack as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for more support from the USA and Western allies to bolster Ukraine's air defences after the attack, raising the apprehensions of possible world war 3 . Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the country's air force said. Meanwhile, Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency said one person was killed by a Ukrainian drone in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Luhansk region. Both Ukraine and Russia say they do not attack civilian targets. Russia Attacks Ukraine The Ukrainian military said air strikes were recorded in six locations. One person died in a drone strike in the Kherson region, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said, while another was killed when a drone hit a car in the Kharkiv region, according to its Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, according to regional Governor Ihor Taburets. In the far-western Lviv region, a large fire broke out at an industrial facility in the city of Drohobych following a drone attack that also cut electricity to parts of the city. Live Events In Kyiv, families huddled in metro stations for shelter after air raid sirens rung out. Machine-gun fire and explosions were heard across the capital and in the western city of Lviv, where such attacks are less common. "Moscow will not stop as long as it has the capability to launch massive strikes," Zelenskiy said on X. He said Russia had launched around 114 missiles, 1,270 drones, and 1,100 glide bombs just in the past week. FAQs Q1. Who is President of Russia? A1. President of Russia is Vladimir Putin. Q2. Who is President of Ukraine? A2. President of Ukraine is Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
