KYIV − An F-16 fighter jet from Ukraine crashed on Monday while it was engaged in intercepting a significant Russian offensive, marking the first loss of this type of aircraft since Ukraine received them earlier this month, according to military officials in Kyiv.

The aircraft went down while approaching a designated Russian target, resulting in the death of its pilot, as stated by the Ukrainian General Staff in a Thursday Facebook update.

According to the update, the F-16s have shown remarkable performance, having successfully intercepted four Russian cruise missiles. During the same day, Ukraine reported that Russia launched over 200 missiles and drones aimed at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“We lost connection with one of our aircraft while it was nearing the next target. Subsequently, we learned that the jet had crashed, and the pilot was killed,” the statement detailed.

A U.S. defense representative informed Reuters that the crash on Monday does not seem to have resulted from enemy fire, and investigations are ongoing into possible causes such as pilot error or mechanical issues.

Details about the current size of Ukraine’s F-16 fleet have not been disclosed, but the crash is a significant loss. The Times of London has reported that Ukraine might have six F-16s in total.

Lack of trained F-16 pilots in Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on August 4 that Ukraine is facing a shortage of trained pilots as well as a limited number of F-16 jets.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force’s western command, pilot Oleksiy Mes tragically lost his life during the combat mission on Monday.

“Oleksiy protected the Ukrainian people from deadly Russian missiles, but sadly, he paid with his life,” the statement mourned.

Known by his call sign Moonfish, Oleksiy Mes had been training for F-16 operations, as reported by CNN in 2023.

The arrival of these jets represented a critical development for Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russia’s large-scale invasion, which began two-and-a-half years ago.

Military experts have indicated that while the limited number of F-16s holds significance, they are unlikely to dramatically alter the trajectory of the conflict.

Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, Kyiv has been appealing to its allies for modern aircraft to strengthen its outdated post-Soviet air fleet.

Before receiving F-16s this year, Russia had ample opportunity to bolster its defenses, while Ukraine had to rely on a diminished air force, which is considerably smaller and less advanced than that of Russia.