In a shocking twist, a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, initially reported as having crashed, was shot down by a missile from Ukraine’s US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, according to Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuglaya.
Bezuglaya, citing her sources, claimed that the fighter jet was shot down during a major Russian missile and drone attack on August 26, a day that also marked the combat debut of Ukraine’s F-16s.
The loss of the F-16 is particularly significant given Ukraine’s limited inventory of these advanced fighter jets. The crash resulted in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mes, known by the callsign “Moonfish,” a notable figure in Ukraine’s military aviation community.
Moonfish was among the first Ukrainian pilots trained to fly the F-16. He was recognized as one of the most vocal advocates within the Ukrainian Air Force for the country’s acquisition of F-16s.
He actively promoted this cause in Washington alongside “Juice”, a fellow Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot who tragically died in an accident nearly a year ago.
Oleksii Mes’, a pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force, heroically fought his last battle in the skies.
On August 26, during a massive russian missile and air strike, Oleksii shot down three cruise missiles and one strike UAV. He saved countless Ukrainians from deadly russian… pic.twitter.com/Wwc0BiUThO
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) August 29, 2024
The Wall Street Journal first reported on August 29 that the F-16 was lost in a crash on August 26. This was later confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which stated that Moonfish’s final mission involved successfully downing three cruise missiles and one drone.
However, contact with his aircraft was lost during an approach to a subsequent target. Early assumptions attributed the crash to pilot error, but Bezuglaya’s revelation points to a far more troubling scenario.
According to her, the F-16 might have been downed by a Patriot surface-to-air missile, another American-made weapon, due to a “lack of coordination between units.”
Although no solid proof has been provided to substantiate this claim, it does raise concerns about the effective coordination between Ukraine’s ground and air forces.
On the other hand, Deputy Pentagon Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh refused to comment on whether the Patriot system was responsible for the downing of the F-16.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian media, citing Ukrainian officials, also reported that the Ukrainian military is investigating the cause of the incident and is considering various possibilities, including friendly fire and pilot error. However, Ukrainian officials have made it clear that the true cause will only be revealed once the investigation is complete.
The incident marks a major setback for Ukraine, which had recently received the F-16s as a crucial component of its defense strategy. Losing an F-16 to friendly fire—if that is indeed the case—could severely impact the morale and operational confidence of Ukrainian forces.
Russia Behind The Destruction Of F-16?
While Western media has only now reported the loss of Ukraine’s first F-16 fighter jet, Russia had already claimed the destruction of a US-made F-16 during its extensive attack on August 26.
As EurAsian Times reported earlier, Russian forces struck a Ukrainian airbase in Ivano-Frankivsk, which was suspected of housing these advanced aircraft.
The strike on the base came after Ukraine inadvertently disclosed the location of its F-16s. A tribute video released by Ukraine meant to honor a fallen pilot unintentionally revealed that these high-value jets were stationed at the Kolomyia military airfield in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Pro-Russian sources subsequently alleged that the Russian attack specifically targeted a hangar believed to contain military equipment, including two F-16 jets reportedly sheltered by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The strike, according to these sources, occurred near the area where the jets were housed.
Despite these assertions, there was no visual evidence, and the story garnered only limited attention from international media.
However, the large-scale Russian attacks on Ukrainian airfields are a significant problem for Ukraine, as it severely hampers Kyiv’s ability to effectively deploy these US-made fighter aircraft.
Russian Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Roman Shkurlatov explained that strikes of this nature would prevent the effective deployment of the F-16s, keep the enemy in a state of readiness, and systematically target airfield infrastructure.
The Russian officer pointed out that the F-16s are stationed in Ukraine’s western regions and will not be based in Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, or Poltava, as those areas are within the range of assured defeat. Nonetheless, it makes strategic sense to target flight infrastructure.
As soon as Russian missile carriers are detected, Ukrainian aircraft must abandon the airfields and remain airborne. According to Colonel Roman Shkurlatov, this constant state of alert hinders the effective use of the planes, as they are focused more on protecting their assets than on deploying them efficiently.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry also weighed in on the reports regarding the F-16’s destruction, particularly focusing on claims that it was brought down by a Ukrainian Patriot missile.
On August 29, Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, commented on the incident. Miroshnik’s comments were ironic. He described the incident as a “worthy start” for what he sarcastically referred to as a “New Underwaffe,” implying the use of Western aircraft by Ukrainian forces.
“They did not allow our guys to receive the well-deserved 15 million bonuses for the downed enemy F-16; they shot it down themselves! To the rednecks,” Miroshnik wrote in his Telegram channel.
F-16 Loss – Major Setback For Ukraine?
The recent loss of an F-16 has underscored significant challenges and concerns regarding the integration and operational readiness of these advanced aircraft within the Ukrainian Air Force.
While the inevitability of such losses was acknowledged, the timing is particularly troubling given the current strategic context. According to previous reports, Ukraine has received six F-16s from its friendly nations. This limited number highlights the gravity of losing even one of these advanced fighters.
The aircraft’s loss is compounded by the fact that Ukraine is not only contending with the physical loss of the plane but also grappling with the impact of losing one of its most experienced F-16 pilots.
In July, it was reported that only six Ukrainian pilots were certified for combat missions in F-16s at that time. This limited pool of qualified pilots restricts the number of daily sorties and operational flexibility.
Losing one of the initial F-16 pilots, who had undergone early training and gained critical combat experience, represents a significant setback.
Experts believe that several factors restrict the effective deployment of these US-made jets by Ukraine. A major concern is the accelerated training program for Ukrainian pilots.
The transition to flying American F-16s was hastened to meet urgent needs, leaving pilots with inadequate time to fully master the complexities of these advanced aircraft. This rushed approach has inevitably affected their operational effectiveness.
Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen has noted that effective training for an F-16 pilot typically requires about two years, incorporating both basic skills and advanced tactics.
“Usually, training an F-16 pilot takes about two years. You know, you have a combination of basic piloting of an aircraft and then how to operate in a joint tactical environment, in a joint weapons environment. So now we have a Ukrainian who has gone through a very quick training program,” he said.
Further, Ukraine’s lack of comprehensive maintenance facilities and experience—compared to countries like Romania or Poland—further exacerbates these challenges.
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