A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot was killed while repelling a large-scale Russian air assault involving hundreds of drones, cruise, and ballistic missiles, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday. The attack marks one of the most intense air offensives by Moscow as the war enters its fourth year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posthumously awarded the pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, the country’s highest honour, the title of Hero of Ukraine, praising his bravery and long-standing service to Ukraine’s defence since 2014.
“He mastered four aircraft types and had notable achievements in defending Ukraine,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly address. “It is painful to lose such people.”
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Ustymenko used all his onboard weapons during the mission and shot down seven air targets. His jet sustained damage while engaging the final target and crashed before he could eject. Officials noted he had steered the aircraft away from a populated area before the crash.
Ukraine’s military reported that Russia launched a total of 477 drones and 60 missiles overnight. Ukrainian defences intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles, while 225 drones were either lost to electronic warfare or were decoys.
The assault caused widespread damage across several regions. In Kyiv, residents sought refuge in metro stations as air raid sirens blared. Machine-gun fire and explosions were reported in the capital and in the western city of Lviv, where strikes are rarer. Regional governors confirmed that infrastructure was targeted in the Lviv region, while multiple injuries and structural damage occurred in Cherkasy and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Ukraine has now lost three F-16 jets since it began using the U.S.-made aircraft last year. Though Kyiv has not disclosed the total size of its fleet, the jets have become a key component of Ukraine’s air defence, even if not always suited to intercept slower-moving drones, according to military analysts.
Zelenskiy renewed calls for increased support from the U.S. and Western allies, particularly in strengthening air defence. “This war must be brought to an end—pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection,” he wrote on X. “Ukraine needs more Patriot systems and support to protect lives.”
President Donald Trump, who recently met Zelenskiy at the NATO summit, said he is considering Ukraine’s request for additional U.S. Patriot missile systems. However, his administration has yet to announce new military aid.
The attacks come amid intensifying Russian strikes. Zelenskiy said Moscow has launched over 1,100 glide bombs, 1,270 drones, and 114 missiles in the past week alone. Russia claims its strikes are aimed at military infrastructure, while Ukraine accuses Moscow of causing massive civilian casualties and destruction.
Meanwhile, Russian state media reported that a Ukrainian drone killed one person in Russian-controlled Luhansk. Both sides continue to claim they do not deliberately target civilians.
As Ukraine braces for continued aerial barrages, Zelenskiy emphasised that further assistance is vital. “We’re ready to purchase air defence systems. We count on leadership, political will, and support from the United States, Europe, and all our partners,” he said.
REUTERS/S.S