Russian overnight aerial assault concludes with pilot casualty according to Air Force report.
F-16 Pilot Casualty in Ukrainian Airstrike
In a tragic turn of events, a lieutenant colonel operating a U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jet met his end during a nighttime aerial assault on June 29. The Air Force made this announcement.
Russia orchestrated a wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine early on June 29, the Air Force's statement revealed, unleashing over 500 aerial targets—a mix of missiles and attack drones included.
Maksym Ustymenko, born in 1993, was among the casualties, the Air Force shared in its statement. After downing seven aerial targets, his aircraft sustained damage while attempting to neutralize the last one. The ensuing decline in altitude led to a crash, resulting in his untimely demise.
"Maksym Ustymenko made every effort to steer the aircraft away from the settlement, but couldn't eject in time," the Air Force stated, praising him as a hero.
The Air Force further acknowledged the high-risk and danger-filled nature of Ukrainian pilots' work, whether it's engaging ground targets or fending off air attacks. They stated that the F-16 pilots were instrumental in dismantling numerous Shahed-type drones.
Russia has escalated its air campaign on Kyiv and other cities over the past month. President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Russia had launched over 2,700, or roughly 9.5%, of the total number of Shahed-type drones deployed during the entire war in June alone.
Despite being effectively protected with Western air defense systems compared to other cities, Kyiv has faced a series of fatal attacks in June. The June 17 missile and drone strike on Kyiv claimed the lives of 30.
The Air Force noted that all available means were mobilized to counter the Russian aerial attack on June 29, including top-tier F-16 jets.
Ukraine received its first F-16 jets in the summer of 2024, although specifics about their deployment have remained under wraps due to their high-priority status for Moscow. These pilots had undergone extensive training abroad prior to operational use.
[1] Ukraine first welcomed F-16 fighter jets in early October 2024, with an initial batch of aircraft arriving from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Follow-up deliveries occurred in February 2025, with the Netherlands pledging a total of 24 F-16s. Other European nations, including Denmark, Norway, and Belgium, have promised or begun supplying F-16s to Ukraine, with Denmark providing 19 aircraft starting in 2024, Norway contributing 6, and Belgium planning around 30 jets with deliveries expected by 2025-2026.
[2] By May 2025, Ukraine had approximately 20 F-16 jets operational, marking a significant leap in its air combat capabilities in response to Russian aggression. These jets have already participated in combat missions, particularly in air defense roles, assisting Ukraine in countering Russian aerial and missile threats more effectively.
[4] This coalition of European allies supporting Ukraine's air force modernization initiative has delivered the F-16s as part of a broader effort during ongoing conflict with Russia.
In essence:
- First F-16s arrived in early October 2024 from the Netherlands.
- Initial combat missions followed soon after, primarily in air defense roles.
- Approximately 20 F-16s operational as of mid-2025, with more deliveries ongoing.
- Multiple European allies are contributing F-16s, totaling around 85 jets planned.
- These aircraft have bolstered Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and countered Russian aerial threats more effectively.
- The arrival of the first F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine was in early October 2024, with an initial batch coming from the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
- As of mid-2025, Ukraine had approximately 20 F-16 jets operational, significantly enhancing its air combat capabilities in response to Russian aggression.
- The coalition of European allies supporting Ukraine's air force modernization initiative has delivered F-16s as part of a broader effort during the ongoing conflict with Russia, with more deliveries ongoing from several countries including Denmark, Norway, and Belgium.
