NATO scrambled its warplanes overnight amid a huge Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine. A Ukrainian F-16 supersonic fighter supplied by the West was shot down with the loss of a “hero” pilot amid a desperate operation to counter 500-plus strikes by Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Pilot Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, born in 1993, shot down seven air targets using all his weapons before he was hit.
“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!”