Ukrainian F-16 pilot dies in Russia's largest air raid

Ukrainian F-16 pilot dies in Russia's largest air raid

A Ukrainian pilot was killed and his F-16 jet crashed after Russia started a massive air raid with hundreds of drones and numerous rockets on Sunday night, the Ukrainian military said.

the loss of a hero

The pilot, which the Ukrainian Air Force Lt. Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko has been identified, is the third F-16 pilot, which has been killed last summer since the start of the use of the jet. Its crash represents the fourth loss of an F-16 jet by Ukraine. The Air Force explained that Ustymenko had done everything in his power to control the aircraft from an inhabited area, but he didn't have enough time to secure himself.

utymenko’s use

utymenko’s death is a difficult blow for Ukraine. Only a small number of the best pilots in the country was trained for the F-16 Flight, which are considered the most progressive fighter jets in Ukraine. The training is very specialized and takes months. President Wolodymyr Selenskyj praised Ustymko, who destroyed seven goals before his death, and thanked the Ukrainian Air Force for her "heroic protection" of the Ukrainian airspace.

massive air strikes from Russia

Selenskyj reported that Russia shot 477 drones and 60 rockets to six different locations on Sunday night - this was one of Russia's largest air raids in relation to the weapons used, according to a count of Cnn.

reinforcement of air defense required

Russia has its Air strikes In the past few weeks Hundreds of drones and rockets fired. These attacks are not only greater and more common; They are also more concentrated and were carried out in a way that makes it much more difficult to ward them off - the attacks take place at higher heights, outside the reach of machine guns.

Selenskyj appealed to the western allies Kiev on Sunday to provide more air defense systems for his country, and emphasized that Russia would continue to attack Ukraine as long as it is able to do so. "This war has to be ended. Pressure on the aggressor is necessary, as well as protection. Protection against ballistic and other rockets, from drones and terror," he said.

American systems for Ukraine

He added that Ukraine was ready to buy "American systems" to strengthen their air defense-a clear appeal to US President Donald Trump and his government, to enable Ukraine to acquire patriot air defense systems. The Patriots are generally considered one of the best air defense systems. There are also systems that are produced by other allies in Ukraine, but none of the Patriots can hand the Patriots in relation to advanced hypers and ballistic rockets.

The Ukraine has an estimated half a dozen of the American Patriot air defense systems , although the exact numbers and their locations are kept strictly secret. The Patriots play a crucial role in the air defense of Ukraine by protecting millions of civilians from Russian rockets. But Kiev runs the risk of filling up the stock of rockets for these systems, while Trump continues to threaten to withdraw US aid from Ukraine.

The effects of the attacks

The Ukrainian Air Force announced on Sunday that they shot 211 drones and 38 rockets fired by Moscow at night. Russian attacks were registered in six locations, while rubble were spotted in eight places. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the "military-industrial institutions and oil refineries" had the goal of Ukraine, while the Ukrainians reported that civilian infrastructures were hit.

At least 11 people were injured in a Russian attack in the city of Smila in the central region of Tscherkassy, ​​including two children, as local officials announced on Sunday. Three nine -story buildings, private houses and cars were significantly damaged in the fire, as did four educational institutions and a psychiatric hospital, said Ihor Taburets, head of the regional military administration of Tscherkassy.