By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, recently supplied by NATO allies, has been destroyed during a Russian missile barrage, marking the first loss of its kind since these aircraft were delivered to Ukraine earlier this month. The incident resulted in the death of the pilot, Oleksiy Mes, according to Ukrainian military sources who confirmed the details to the BBC.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the aircraft was not directly hit by a Russian missile but crashed during what has been described as Russia’s largest aerial attack to date. Before the crash, Mes successfully intercepted three Russian cruise missiles and one drone, preventing them from hitting their targets.
“Oleksiy saved Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement, mourning the loss of the pilot and recognizing his heroic actions.
The F-16s, manufactured in the United States, were recently deployed by Ukraine to combat Russian drones and missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Tuesday that the jets were now active in defense operations. Zelensky has also urged allies to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory.
The Netherlands recently committed to supplying Ukraine with 24 additional F-16s, complementing the 65 already pledged by NATO countries since U.S. President Joe Biden authorized their transfer in August 2023. Dutch Chief of Defence General Otto Eichelsheim announced that there would be no restrictions on the usage of these jets, apart from the need to comply with humanitarian law. This could allow Ukraine to launch deeper strikes into Russia, further escalating the conflict.
The loss of the F-16 is a significant setback for Ukraine, which has been relying on these advanced aircraft to strengthen its air defense capabilities. The F-16s work alongside Western-supplied surface-to-air missile systems, such as Patriot and NASAMS, to defend against various threats, including Russian glide bombs equipped with precision strike capabilities.
Despite this setback, Ukraine continues to bolster its military capabilities. President Zelensky revealed that Ukraine recently conducted a successful test of a domestically-produced ballistic missile, though details of the missile remain undisclosed. Zelensky is expected to present a “victory plan” to President Biden during his upcoming visit to the United States.