A Ukrainian F-16 pilot died in a fighting mission. Zelenski sent condolences to the pilot's family
A 26-year-old Ukrainian young man, a F-16 pilot, lost his life on Saturday, April 12, in battle. It is the second such loss announced by Ukraine since the delivery, in 2024, of these American manufacturing planes.
Volodimir Zelenski sent condolences to the Photo Pilot family: EPA-EFE (archive)
“On April 12, 2025, Pavlo Ivanov, 26, was killed while piloting a F-16 in a fighting mission. He was killed in battle while defending his country against Russian invaders“, The Ukrainian air forces announced on Telegram.
The army did not specify the exact circumstances of his death, nor the condition of his aircraft, and said that “the circumstances of the tragedy“They are established within a commission of inquiry.
“Almost daily, F-16 pilots carry out fighting missions in various areas, under incredibly difficult conditions, to cover groups that make air strokes and to hit enemy targets“, said the Ukrainian army, according to AFP.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski sent condolences to the pilot's family and “on social networkshis brothers of weapons“.
“Captain Pavlo Ivanov was tragically killed during a F-16 fight mission. He was only 26 years old. My condolences to his family and for all Pavlo's weapons. Military officials provided the necessary reports on this fighting situation. We set all the circumstances“, Zelenski wrote on the X platform.
He added: “F-16, Mirages and Ukrainian Migs, all our fighter aviation fulfills missions, defending our state and supporting terrestrial operations. Air forces are also engaged in the defense of Ukraine by rockets and Russian drones. We are proud of our warriors. Our answer will be strong and precise. Glory of Ukraine!”.
At the beginning of August 2024, Kiev received his first batch of F-16 fighter jets delivered by his Western allies, after asking for these flight devices for two years. A few days later, at the end of August, the army reported that an F-16 collapsed while rejecting a Russian missile attack, and the pilot died. This is Oleksiy Mes, known as “Moonfish”, a top Ukrainian pilot.
This has so far been the only loss of a F-16 pilot announced by Kiev. The Ukrainian army uses the F-16 aircraft especially to destroy the Russian rockets constantly launched on the Ukrainian territory from the beginning of the invasion in 2022.
