Ukraine F-16 destroyed during Russian attack, BBC told

Ukraine F-16 destroyed during Russian attack, BBC told

According to a Ukrainian military source speaking to the BBC, one of the F-16 fighter jets provided by NATO allies to Ukraine has been destroyed.

The jet was lost during a wave of Russian missile attacks on Monday, resulting in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mes.

This incident marks the first loss of an F-16 since its delivery earlier this month.

The Ukrainian military has stated that the crash was not caused directly by an enemy missile strike. They reported that the pilot successfully intercepted three cruise missiles and one drone during Russia’s largest aerial assault to date.

In a statement on social media, the Ukrainian Air Force praised Oleksiy Mes, saying, “Oleksiy saved Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles.”

“Unfortunately, at the cost of his own life.”

The statement did not specify the type of plane involved, but a military source told the BBC the pilot was flying an F-16.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially confirmed on Tuesday the US-made F-16s were being deployed to shoot down Russian drones and missiles.

This week, he asked allies to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to hit targets further into Russia.

Dutch Chief of Defence Gen Onno Eichelsheim confirmed the Netherlands will provide Ukraine with 24 of the jets, in addition to more weapons.

There will be no restrictions on their usage apart from complying with humanitarian law, he told a conference in Washington on Wednesday – meaning Kyiv could launch deeper strikes into Russian territory.

Around 65 F-16s have been pledged by Nato countries since US President Joe Biden first authorized willing European allies to send them to Ukraine in August 2023.

Ukraine’s F-16s work alongside a limited number of Western-supplied surface-to-air missile systems such as Patriot and Nasams which are already on the ground.

They also help defend against Russian glide bombs – dumb munitions fitted with pop-out wing kits and guidance modules to deliver precision strike stand-off capabilities, similar to the JDAM munitions from the United States.

The destruction of the aircraft is a blow to Zelensky, who said he will deliver a “victory plan” to US President Joe Biden next month.

He also revealed Ukraine had recently carried out the first successful test of a domestically-produced ballistic missile, but declined to share any more details.