- Category
- Latest news
Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Pavlo Ivanov Killed During Combat Mission
- Authors
![Ivan_khomenko]( "Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian Air Force pilot Pavlo Ivanov was killed on Saturday, April 12, during a combat mission on an F-16 fighter jet. The 26-year-old officer died while carrying out his duty defending Ukraine, according to an official statement from the Air Force on April 12.
A joint commission has begun investigating the circumstances of the incident. No additional operational details have been disclosed at this time.
The Air Force emphasized that F-16 pilots are operating under extremely challenging conditions, conducting combat missions on a daily basis. These include providing fighter cover for strike groups and targeting enemy positions. “Ukrainian pilots are performing at the limits of human and technical capability, constantly risking their lives,” the statement read.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the news by offering condolences to the pilot’s family and comrades. “Today, in combat on an F-16, Captain Pavlo Ivanov was killed. He was 26 years old. My condolences to his family and all of Pavlo’s fellow servicemen,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.
He noted that the circumstances of the incident are being reviewed by military command and added that the Ukrainian Air Force continues to play a key role in national defense. “We will respond strongly and precisely,” the president said.
This is the second fatal incident involving F-16s in Ukraine. In August 2024, an F-16 pilot, Oleksii Mes, call sign “Moonfish,” died during an aerial interception of a Russian attack. A Ministry of Defense commission also investigated that case.
He successfully destroyed three cruise missiles and one UAV before being shot down. Mes was posthumously promoted to the rank of colonel and later awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
The deployment of F-16s in Ukraine follows a long process of international coordination and training. On August 4, 2024, President Zelenskyy confirmed that the first F-16s had arrived in the country. These US-made jets are primarily used to intercept aerial threats, including missiles and drones.
In addition to F-16s, Ukraine operates French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and Soviet-era MiG aircraft. Ukrainian Mirage jets are used in both defensive and strike roles, while MiGs continue to serve in various combat operations. The Air Force employs a mixed fleet to support ground forces, defend airspace, and conduct offensive operations under increasingly complex conditions.
