A tragic incident occurred on Monday during a Russian aerial assault on Ukraine, claiming the life of a highly skilled Ukrainian pilot. The pilot, identified as Oleksiy Mes, widely known as “Moonfish”, was operating a US-made F-16 fighter jet when it crashed.
According to a CNN report, citing Ukrainian military sources, pilot error has been ruled out as a possible cause of the crash. The Ukrainian Defence Forces described the crash as occurring while “repelling the biggest ever aerial attack” by Russia. The pilot was killed in the line of duty, and he was buried on Thursday.
The incident is currently under investigation, with international experts expected to assist with the probe. The death of “Moonfish” represents a significant loss for Ukraine, as he was one of a select group of pilots trained to operate the F-16s.
The deployment of the F-16s in combat marked a major turning point in Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Just the day before the crash, on Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force had utilized the F-16s to intercept Russian missiles and drones.
The arrival of the F-16s had been long awaited by Ukraine. President Zelenskyy had consistently appealed to Western allies for the advanced jets since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Although Western countries initially hesitated, the Netherlands and Denmark ultimately pledged to supply the jets in early summer of 2023. The US approved the transfer just a few weeks later.
Upon their arrival in Ukraine, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the jets, highlighting the “hundreds of meetings and negotiations” required to secure them. Ukrainian pilots commenced training in the US in the fall, with “Moonfish” and others completing the program in a remarkable six months, despite the typical training duration being one year.
The loss of “Moonfish” underscores the ongoing risks faced by Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russia. It also serves as a reminder of the vital role played by skilled pilots in the conflict.
