Ukraine has not definitively identified the deceased pilot, but the country’s air force has announced that Oleksiy Mes, known by his call sign “Moonfish,” died in a crash on Monday.
The pilot, identified by Ukraine’s air force as Oleksiy Mes, was commemorated with a grand funeral in Lutsk, during which Ukrainian jets performed a flyover in his honor.
A top Ukrainian pilot was killed and his US-made F-16 fighter jet was destroyed during a clash with Russian forces, according to CNN.
Initial reports indicated that the F-16 was not shot down by the Russian military. However, the Ukrainian Defense Forces contend that the aircraft was indeed downed by Russian forces and that pilot error was not a factor.
In a statement, the Ukrainian military explained that the F-16s were deployed to counter a missile attack from the Russian Federation, working in conjunction with anti-aircraft missile units, CBS News reported.
Although Ukraine did not formally identify the deceased pilot, it was revealed that Oleksiy Mes, known by his call sign “Moonfish,” died in a crash on Monday. He was buried on Thursday, CNN reported.
CNN sources indicated that an investigation into the F-16 crash will be conducted with the assistance of international experts.
The Ukrainian Western air command stated that on August 26, while defending against a large-scale Russian missile and air assault, Oleksiy successfully intercepted three cruise missiles and one attack drone, CBS News reported.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has escalated, with Ukraine making incursions into Russian territory, including capturing parts of the Kursk region, a city near the border.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of using these tactics to gain an advantage in negotiations to end the conflict. However, the Kremlin has refused to agree to a ceasefire.
