Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Killed Repelling Russian Strike, Zelensky Urges U.S. Support
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot was killed during a major Russian air assault involving hundreds of drones and missiles, as President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for greater U.S. and Western support to bolster Ukraine’s air defences.
The pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, died after his aircraft was damaged mid-mission while intercepting enemy targets. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Ustymenko downed seven aerial threats before his jet lost altitude and crashed. He was unable to eject in time.
President Zelensky posthumously awarded him the title of Hero of Ukraine, the nation’s highest honor, describing him as a seasoned combat pilot who had flown missions since the onset of the 2014 conflict in eastern Ukraine.
“This is a painful loss,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “He mastered four types of aircraft and achieved significant results in the defense of our country.”
The deadly crash came amid one of Russia’s largest overnight bombardments this year. Ukrainian authorities reported that Moscow launched 477 drones and 60 missiles across multiple regions, including Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Air raid sirens echoed across Kyiv, with residents seeking shelter in metro stations. In Cherkasy, 11 people — including two children — were injured, and a college and several residential buildings were damaged. One woman was wounded in Ivano-Frankivsk.
Ukraine’s air defense systems managed to intercept 211 drones and 38 missiles, while 225 additional drones were rendered ineffective through electronic warfare or were found to be decoys.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky warned: “Moscow will not stop as long as it retains the capacity for mass strikes.” He revealed that Russia has fired approximately 114 missiles, 1,270 drones, and 1,100 glide bombs over the past week alone.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine urgently needs more U.S.-made Patriot missile batteries and reiterated his plea for “leadership, political will, and support” from the U.S. and its allies.
Ukraine has now lost three F-16 jets since it began operating the U.S.-supplied fighters last year. Though Kyiv has not disclosed the total number of F-16s in service, the jets are considered a vital component of Ukraine’s defense strategy despite limitations in drone interception capabilities.
As Russia intensifies its campaign of aerial bombardment, Ukraine’s appeal for advanced air defense systems grows more urgent—especially as future U.S. military aid under President Donald Trump remains uncertain.
