Ukraine Loses F-16 Fighter Jet and Pilot in Largest Russian Aerial Assault of War

June 30, 2025 – Ukraine has confirmed the loss of a Western-supplied F-16 fighter jet and the death of Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, amid what officials describe as the largest Russian aerial assault since the conflict began. The massive overnight attack on Sunday, June 29, 2025, also prompted NATO, including Poland, to scramble jets in response to the heightened threat.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched a record-breaking 537 aerial weapons, consisting of 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, across multiple Ukrainian regions. Colonel Yuriy Ignat, a Ukrainian Air Force official, confirmed widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, along with multiple civilian casualties.

Lt. Col. Ustymenko, a 32-year-old first-class pilot, died while defending Ukraine’s airspace during the attack. He successfully shot down seven enemy air targets with his F-16 before his jet sustained damage while intercepting the final target. Ustymenko steered the failing aircraft away from populated areas but was unable to eject in time. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthumously honored him with Ukraine's highest national award, calling him a true hero who had served the nation since 2014.

This is the third F-16 Ukraine has lost since receiving the jets from Western allies in 2024. The incident has renewed Ukraine’s plea for advanced air defense systems, especially Patriot missile batteries, to counter increasing Russian aerial threats.

In response to the large-scale strikes, Poland’s Operational Command activated emergency protocols, scrambling fighter jets and NATO aircraft and placing ground-based air defenses on high alert. While no Russian drones or missiles crossed into Polish airspace, the action reflects growing concerns among NATO nations bordering Ukraine during such escalations.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the assault, stating it used “high-precision long-range air, sea, and land-based weapons,” including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, to target Ukrainian military and energy infrastructure. Moscow also reported that its forces had seized the village of Novoukrainka in Donetsk and intercepted three Ukrainian drones near the Russian border.

With the war now in its fourth year, Russia’s intensified aerial campaign is further complicating diplomatic efforts, deepening the crisis on Europe’s eastern frontier.