Ukrainian F-16 pilot killed repelling massive Russian drone, missile attack

A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot died in a crash while repelling a large-scale Russian air attack that involved hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, Ukrainian authorities reported on June 29. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Washington and Western allies to increase support for Ukraine's air defence capabilities following the attack, which caused damage to homes and infrastructure across the country and injured at least 12 people, Caliber.Az repoorts via Reuters.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens forced families to seek shelter in metro stations as machine-gun fire and explosions were heard throughout the capital and in the western city of Lviv—an area less frequently targeted. The governor of Lviv region, which borders Poland, confirmed the attack focused on critical infrastructure.

Since beginning operations of the US-made F-16 jets last year, Ukraine has lost three of these aircraft, though Kyiv has not disclosed the total number in its fleet. The jets have become central to Ukraine’s aerial defence efforts.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated the pilot maneuvered the damaged jet away from populated areas but was unable to eject before the crash.

“The pilot used all of his onboard weapons and shot down seven air targets. While shooting down the last one, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude,” the Air Force said in a Telegram post.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russia launched 477 drones and 60 missiles overnight. Ukrainian forces intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles, with another 225 drones lost due to electronic warfare or identified as decoys without explosives.

“Moscow will not stop as long as it has the capability to launch massive strikes,” Zelenskyy warned on X, noting that in the past week alone, Russia launched approximately 114 missiles, 1,270 drones, and 1,100 glide bombs.

Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported one person was killed by a Ukrainian drone strike in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. Both Ukraine and Russia maintain that they do not target civilian areas.

Zelenskyy emphasised the urgent need for enhanced air defences, calling on the United States and Europe to provide “leadership, political will, and support.” The Ukrainian president said Kyiv is prepared to purchase American air defence systems and highlighted the importance of international pressure on Russia.

Recent Russian strikes have hit multiple Ukrainian cities, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. Explosions were reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.

In Cherkasy, eleven people including two children were injured, and several buildings including a college sustained damage, according to regional governor Ihor Taburets. Additional injuries were reported in Ivano-Frankivsk. Images from Cherkasy showed evacuated apartment buildings with charred walls and broken windows.

Industrial and railway infrastructure also suffered damage in Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava, underscoring the scale and impact of the ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s critical facilities.

By Sabina Mammadli