Ukraine‘s air pressure on Friday stated that it misplaced its US-made F-16 fighter jet, giving a big blow to Ukrainian forces combating in opposition to Russia.F-16 has performed a key function in Ukraine’s air protection in opposition to Russian incursion.Ukraine’s air pressure stated it on its official Telegram channel that it misplaced contact with the F-16 early Friday throughout a manoeuvre to repel a Russian assault. “The pilot destroyed three air targets and was engaged on the fourth, utilizing an plane gun” when “an emergency state of affairs arose on board”. Nevertheless, the pilot ejected safely, the air pressure stated, including {that a} fee has been appointed to analyze the crash.That is the second confirmed lack of Ukraine’s F-16, the primary being in August 2024 when Kyiv stated that an F-16 had crashed whereas repelling a Russian missile assault, killing its pilot.In April 2025, Russia claimed downing an F-16. Ukraine didn’t verify, however stated pilot Pavlo Ivanov was killed throughout a fight mission.It is a blow for Ukraine, which has relied on F-16s to intercept missiles and interact Russian plane. In the meantime, Russia has continued its offensive, deploying 112 drones in a single day, of which 73 had been shot down and 36 had been misplaced from radar with out inflicting any injury.
