Heroic Loss Amid Air Battles in Ukraine
Ukraine mourns the loss of one of its top fighter pilots, Oleksii “Moonfish” Mes, who died in a crash while piloting an F-16 jet donated by NATO. The crash occurred as he was repelling a Russian missile attack, marking the first reported loss of a US-made F-16 aircraft since they were delivered to Ukraine.
Before the crash, Mes successfully shot down three cruise missiles and one strike UAV, demonstrating the jet’s effectiveness in battle.
Oleksii Mes’, a pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force, heroically fought his last battle in the skies.
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) August 29, 2024
On August 26, during a massive russian missile and air strike, Oleksii shot down three cruise missiles and one strike UAV. He saved countless Ukrainians from deadly russian… pic.twitter.com/Wwc0BiUThO
Mes, along with fellow pilot Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov, was a key advocate for the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine. Both pilots were prominent figures in Ukraine’s push to strengthen its air defenses amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Pilshchykov also died in an accident earlier this year.
The Ukrainian military is investigating the cause of the crash, with a US defense official indicating that it was unlikely due to Russian fire. As Ukraine continues to deploy F-16s, donated by several NATO countries, President Zelenskyy praised the Ukrainian pilots mastering these jets and their crucial role in defending the country.
Source abc.net