logo
Ukraine pilot killed, F-16 fighter jet lost, Ukrainian military says

Ukraine pilot killed, F-16 fighter jet lost, Ukrainian military says

Reuters5 hours ago

KYIV, June 29 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian pilot was killed and his F-16 fighter jet lost while repelling a large-scale Russian nighttime missile and drone attack, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday.
It was the third such loss of an F-16 of the war, the military said.
"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 on the Telegram messaging app.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Russian and U.S. spy chiefs agree to call at any time, SVR director says
Russian and U.S. spy chiefs agree to call at any time, SVR director says

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Reuters

Russian and U.S. spy chiefs agree to call at any time, SVR director says

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - Russian spy chief Sergei Naryshkin said in remarks published on Sunday that he had spoken to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, and that they had agreed to call each other at any time. The CIA and Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the successor to the KGB's famed First Chief Directorate, have long been intense rivals, and each service resorted to public campaigns to recruit agents in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. SVR Director Naryshkin told Kremlin state television reporter Pavel Zarubin that he had a call with the CIA's Ratcliffe and agreed on calling each other to discuss issues of interest. "I had a phone call with my American counterpart and we reserved for each other the possibility to call each other at any time and discuss issues of interest to us," Naryshkin told Zarubin. Naryshkin's last known call with the CIA director took place in March 2025, according to Russian media. The SVR and its predecessors have run some of the most damaging known agents in U.S. history, including Julius Rosenberg, who helped the Soviets obtain nuclear secrets, and the moles Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames who betrayed thousands of U.S. secrets.

NATO scrambles warplanes after Putin's 537-missile assault on Ukraine
NATO scrambles warplanes after Putin's 537-missile assault on Ukraine

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

NATO scrambles warplanes after Putin's 537-missile assault on Ukraine

NATO warplanes were scrambled overnight in a dramatic show of force as Vladimir Putin launched a terrifying barrage of more than 500 missiles and drones across Ukraine . The alliance sprang into action amid fears the Russian blitz could spill into neighbouring countries, with Poland confirming its fighter jets had been launched and its air defences placed on full alert. The massive aerial assault, involving Tu-95 strategic bombers, MiG fighter jets, hypersonic Kinzhal 'Dagger' missiles, Iranian-designed Shahed drones and Iskander ballistic missiles, devastated swathes of Ukraine and triggered a desperate response from Kyiv 's air force. Ukrainian officials said 475 of the 537 Russian aerial threats were shot down. Poland's operational command confirmed that NATO fighter jets were launched in response to the sheer scale of the Russian onslaught. 'Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace,' said a statement. 'The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal. 'The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness. 'The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.' One 'hero' pilot was confirmed to have been killed in the crossfire. Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, 32, was hailed a national hero after he single-handedly downed seven air targets before his aircraft was fatally struck. 'The pilot used the entire complex of on-board weapons, and shot down seven air targets,' said the Ukrainian air force. 'During the last exercise, his plane was damaged and began to lose altitude. 'Maksym Ustimenko did everything possible, took the plane away from a settlement, but did not have time to eject... 'He died like a hero.' The fallen pilot had been flying an American-made F-16. The full-scale aerial assault, targeting cities from east to west, was described as one of the most powerful waves of airstrikes since Russia launched its invasion in 2022. In Kremenchuk, apocalyptic scenes emerged after a former oil refinery was hit by a barrage of cruise missiles, hypersonic Kinzhal rockets, and suicide drones. Meanwhile, a major industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia was set ablaze by a direct missile strike. 'A production facility of one of the enterprises was damaged,' confirmed Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration. Mykolaiv and parts of the Donetsk region also suffered hits as the Kremlin's forces continued to pound infrastructure sites across the country. In the western city of Lviv, perilously close to NATO's eastern flank, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure. But, no civilian homes or lives were lost. In total 477 Shahed drones, four Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 41 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles were launched in a single night.

NATO scramble warplanes to protect countries bordering Ukraine after Putin unleashes 537-missile attack
NATO scramble warplanes to protect countries bordering Ukraine after Putin unleashes 537-missile attack

Daily Mail​

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

NATO scramble warplanes to protect countries bordering Ukraine after Putin unleashes 537-missile attack

NATO warplanes were scrambled overnight in a dramatic show of force as Vladimir Putin launched a terrifying barrage of more than 500 missiles and drones across Ukraine. The alliance sprang into action amid fears the Russian blitz could spill into neighbouring countries, with Poland confirming its fighter jets had been launched and its air defences placed on full alert. The massive aerial assault, involving Tu-95 strategic bombers, MiG fighter jets, hypersonic Kinzhal 'Dagger' missiles, Iranian-designed Shahed drones and Iskander ballistic missiles, devastated swathes of Ukraine and triggered a desperate response from Kyiv 's air force. Ukrainian officials said 475 of the 537 Russian aerial threats were shot down. Poland's operational command confirmed that NATO fighter jets were launched in response to the sheer scale of the Russian onslaught. 'Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace,' said a statement. 'The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal. 'The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness. 'The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.' One 'hero' pilot was confirmed to have been killed in the crossfire. Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, 32, was hailed a national hero after he single-handedly downed seven air targets before his aircraft was fatally struck. 'The pilot used the entire complex of on-board weapons, and shot down seven air targets,' said the Ukrainian air force. 'During the last exercise, his plane was damaged and began to lose altitude. 'Maksym Ustimenko did everything possible, took the plane away from a settlement, but did not have time to eject... 'He died like a hero.' The fallen pilot had been flying an American-made F-16. The full-scale aerial assault, targeting cities from east to west, was described as one of the most powerful waves of airstrikes since Russia launched its invasion in 2022. Firefighters work at the site of an apartment building damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes In Kremenchuk, apocalyptic scenes emerged after a former oil refinery was hit by a barrage of cruise missiles, hypersonic Kinzhal rockets, and suicide drones. Meanwhile, a major industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia was set ablaze by a direct missile strike. 'A production facility of one of the enterprises was damaged,' confirmed Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration. Mykolaiv and parts of the Donetsk region also suffered hits as the Kremlin's forces continued to pound infrastructure sites across the country. In the western city of Lviv, perilously close to NATO's eastern flank, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure. But, no civilian homes or lives were lost. In total 477 Shahed drones, four Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 41 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles were launched in a single night.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store