F-16 pilot killed during ‘combat mission’ – Kiev

Ukraine has sent mixed messages about the circumstances surrounding the loss of the US-made aircraft

A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet went down along with its pilot on Saturday during a “combat mission,” bringing the tally of such losses in the conflict with Moscow to two.

It was first announced by the country’s Air Force, which praised its F-16 pilots for their work in “extremely complicated conditions.”

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the loss in a separate statement later in the day, adding that Kiev has been working to establish “all the circumstances” of the incident. Captain Pavlo Ivanov was killed “during an F-16 combat mission,” Zelensky stated.

The Ukrainian leadership appeared to send mixed messages on what brought the jet down, with Zelensky vowing a “strong and precise” response, implying Russia was to blame. The Air Force, however, said an interdepartmental commission had been established to investigate. A clear combat loss would hardly merit such a probe, suggesting Kiev suspects friendly fire.

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It marks the second confirmed loss of an F-16 in Ukraine. The first one was destroyed and its pilot killed under unclear circumstances last August, shortly after the US-made aircraft were first deployed to the country. The incident triggered a lengthy investigation, although its results were never announced. Multiple media reports, however, indicated the plane was likely shot down by Ukraine’s own anti-aircraft defenses.

The incident comes a month after Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuri Ignat bemoaned the capabilities of the older variants of the F-16 Ukraine received from its backers, claiming it cannot fully compete with Russia’s Su-35 in aerial combat.

“The variants that Ukraine has cannot compete one-on-one in an air battle. We need a comprehensive approach, as the Su-35 is a relatively new jet…” Ignat said. “This includes ground-based air defense, electronic warfare systems, and, ideally, an airborne radar. Also crucial are onboard radars for our aircraft and air-to-air missiles.”