A Ukrainian F-16 jet fighter was destroyed in a crash Monday, just weeks after the first of the American-made aircraft arrived in Ukraine, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
Initial reports indicate the jet wasn’t shot down by enemy fire, although the incident occurred during a massive Russian missile barrage across the country Monday, U.S. officials said.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said contact had been lost with the jet while it was approaching its next target.Ukraine used the jets for the first time in combat to shoot down Russian missiles during the strikes this week, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Pentagon referred questions to the Ukrainian Air Force for comment.
The Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement that a pilot, Oleksiy Mes, was killed in combat while helping repel the missile attack on Monday.
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