WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine F-16 crashes, pilot dies repelling Russian strike

One of Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets crashed while repelling a major Russian attack on Monday, Kyiv's military said, the first such loss reported since the long-awaited arrival of the U.S.-made planes this month.

The jet came down and its pilot died while it was approaching a Russian target, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Thursday on Facebook.

The F-16s had "demonstrated high efficiency" and downed four Russian cruise missiles, it added. Ukraine said Russia launched more than 200 missiles and drones that day targeting the energy sector.

"Connection with one of the aircraft was lost while it was approaching the next target. As it turned out later, the plane crashed, and the pilot died," the statement said.

A U.S. defense official told Reuters that Monday's crash did not appear to be the result of Russian fire, and possible causes from pilot error to mechanical failure were still being investigated.

Ukraine has not given details about the size of its new fleet, though the loss left a significant dent. The Times of London has cited a source as saying Ukraine had six of the jets.

CHALLENGES

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Aug. 4 that Ukraine did not have enough pilots trained to use the F-16s or enough of the jets themselves.

Ukraine's air force western command said on Facebook that pilot Oleksiy Mes died in a combat mission on Monday.

"Oleksiy saved the Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles. Unfortunately, at the cost of his own life," the statement said.

Mes went by the call sign Moonfish, and CNN reported in 2023 that he was training for F-16 missions.

The jets' arrival was a milestone for Ukraine in the fight against the full-scale invasion Russia launched 2-1/2 years ago.

Military analysts have said the small number of F-16s, while significant, are unlikely to be a turning point in the conflict.

Kyiv has been urging allies to supply modern jets since the start of Russia's invasion to bolster its small and old post-Soviet fleet.

Before Kyiv received F-16s this year, Russia had more time to prepare defences and Ukraine had to use a depleted air force that is a fraction of the size and sophistication of its enemy's.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass region over past day — top brass

Russian troops liberated two communities in the Donbass region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Battlegroup West units have liberated the settlement of Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic as a result of decisive operations. Battlegroup Center units have liberated the settlement of Nikolayevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic in active operations and continue pushing deeper into the enemy’s defenses," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 185 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted roughly 185 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted losses in the Volchansk, Bryansk and Liptsy directions on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 22nd mechanized, 36th marine infantry and 118th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Pustogorod in the Sumy Region, Volchansk and Liptsy in the Kharkov Region. They repelled two counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 22nd mechanized brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 185 personnel, three motor vehicles, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, a 122mm Gvozdika motorized artillery system and a 122mm D-30 howitzer, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 530 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 530 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

Battlegroup Center units "inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 44th and 53rd mechanized, 95th air assault and 15th National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Rozovka, Grodovka, Karlovka and Mikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They repulsed seven counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 32nd and 100th mechanized, 68th jaeger, 25th airborne and 15th National Guard brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 530 personnel, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, six motor vehicles, two 152mm D-20 howitzers, a 122mm D-30 howitzer and a 100mm Rapira anti-tank gun, it specified.

Reuters/Tass