According to the Ukrainian army, a F-16 fighter jet crashed, killing the pilot

Within weeks of the much-anticipated planes' arrival in Ukraine, a US-made F-16 fighter jet crashed on Monday, killing a senior Ukrainian pilot.

"F-16 fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were used to repel a missile attack on the territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, along with units of anti-aircraft missile troops," the Ukrainian army said.

"During the approach to the next target, communication with one of the planes was lost. As it turned out later, the aircraft crashed, killing the pilot," it added.

The source stated that pilot Oleksiy Mes, dubbed "Moonfish," was buried on Thursday. The source claimed that the pilot died in the crash while "repelling the biggest ever aerial attack" by Russia against Ukraine.

According to the source, worldwide experts will be called to help in the investigation into the disaster.

Zelensky has been requesting the fighter jets from its Western partners since the beginning of the full-scale assault, and Kyiv has been waiting a long time to get the F-16s.

However, Western nations were hesitant to commit to provide F-16s at first, just like with other equipment. Although Denmark and the Netherlands promised to supply them in the early summer of 2023, it took several more weeks for the US to approve the transfer.

Zelensky claimed that in order to get the jets, he and his administration had "hundreds of meetings and negotiations" before they arrived earlier this summer.

Though adaptable and outfitted with cutting-edge radar systems and a range of weaponry, military analysts have issued a warning, stating that they were unlikely to have an immediate impact on combat. The specialists stated that their main worth was as a component of an arsenal that Ukraine may use to protect itself in the upcoming years.

The number of aircraft supplied in the first batch was not disclosed by Ukrainian officials, but just six were anticipated to be delivered this summer by European nations, who had committed to supplying 45 of the aircraft.

Ukraine hopes that the F-16 would provide it with the much-needed boost. The jets have multiple functions, including covering soldiers from the air, attacking ground targets, engaging opposing aircraft, and intercepting missiles. Russian fighter-bombers may be prevented from reaching the battlefield by F-16s equipped with the appropriate weaponry.