A Ukrainian senior commander said at the funeral for Maksym Ustymenko that the experienced F-16 fighter pilot's death shows the high-risk tactics Kyiv will increasingly adopt if it is unable to obtain critical new air defenses.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

A funeral was held in Kyiv for Maksym Ustymenko, an experienced F-16 fighter pilot who was killed after shooting down seven Russian Shahed drones during a large-scale attack involving both drones and missiles. Ukrainian military officials highlighted that Ustymenko's death demonstrates the increasing risks pilots face when forced to use high-risk tactics due to shortages of advanced air defense systems.

Deputy commander Oleg Zakarchuk stated that Ustymenko had exhausted his jet's missiles and resorted to using the aircraft's cannons, a much riskier approach requiring close engagement with enemy drones. The warning comes as the supply of critical arms, including F-16 missiles, has been paused, raising concerns about Ukraine's ability to defend its cities from ongoing aerial attacks.

Ukrainian F-16 pilot's death shows perils of air defense, commander says

A somber procession walked through Kiev on Thursday, as onlookers took a knee to pay their respects to F-16 fighter pilot Maxim Ustimenko. Fighter pilots are typically revered in Ukraine for their role in fending off the increasingly heavy waves of airstrikes that Russia has launched since late 2022. Ustimenko was killed on June 29 after shooting down seven Russian Shahed drones during a massive attack that included hundreds of drones as well as missiles. The experienced pilot's death in battle shows the high-risk tactics Kiev will increasingly adopt if it is unable to obtain critical new air defenses, said Oleg Zakarchuk, deputy commander of Ukraine's Western Air Command. The warning comes days after the Pentagon said it was pausing some supplies of arms Ukraine needs to defend its cities, including missiles carried by F-16s. All must understand that there is no such thing as enough weapons. Therefore, if we cannot use the missiles because we do not get them, then it will be very difficult. It means that one means of destruction of air targets will not work. I think it is a political question, but we must prevent it from happening. Zakarchuk said the pilot first fired all of the jet's air-to-air missiles, then resorted to firing his plane's cannons, a riskier tactic that requires pilots to get close to the drones. A flight to perform a military task is a risk itself, while firing a cannon is a triple risk. But we take into consideration other things, too. If we do not shoot down a Shahid drone and it falls on a settlement, on a building and people die, what should we choose? Of course, we choose to destroy air targets, despite how difficult and risky it is. Ostomenko was among the first 12 pilots to train on the prized American-made fighter, which Kiev began deploying last August, said a deputy air force commander at the ceremony.

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Ukrainian F-16 pilot's death shows perils of air defense, commander says

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Ukraine Invasion