US EditionRussia Launches Largest Aerial Assault on Ukraine; F-16 Pilot Killed as Zelensky Urges U.S. Support
- On June 29, 2025, Ukrainian Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko was killed in his F-16 fighter jet while defending against an extensive Russian air assault involving numerous missiles and drones across Ukraine.
- The attack occurred amid intensified Russian aerial assaults involving 477 drones and 60 missiles launched overnight, forcing Ukraine to deploy all available defenses including elite F-16 jets acquired in summer 2024.
- Ustymenko shot down seven aerial targets before his aircraft was damaged, lost altitude, and crashed as he tried to steer it away from populated areas, but he did not eject in time.
- The Ukrainian Air Force honored Ustymenko as a hero who died defending the nation, noting the loss was the third F-16 downed in the conflict and highlighting that Ukrainian pilots undergo months of training abroad.
- The large-scale attack caused damage to multiple buildings including a college, injured civilians, and demonstrated sustained Russian attempts to weaken Ukraine despite ongoing peace talks and Moscow’s statements about scaling back military spending.
250 Articles
250 Articles
Russia launched its largest aerial attack since war began, Ukraine says
Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough to end the three-year-old war.
Russia launches record aerial attack on Ukraine
Russia launched the largest aerial assault on Ukraine overnight since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, which added that one of its F-16 fighter jet pilots was killed in the attack.Air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat told NPR on Sunday it was the largest air attack in terms of the number of weapons used.In a statement on social media, the air force said Russia used 537 drones and missiles in the attack; …
On Friday, Vladimir Putin said in Belarus that he was open to the third round of peace talks with Ukraine, but during the night of Sunday, a record-breaking airstrike took place in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
