Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot killed while on combat mission

The Ukrainian Air Force reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

“On April 12, 2025, 26-year-old Pavel Ivanov, who was piloting an F-16 fighter, died while on a combat mission. We express our sincere condolences to his family. He gave his life in battle, defending his country from the occupiers,” the statement said.

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The Ukrainian Air Force noted that today F-16 pilots carry out combat sorties on various fronts almost every day in extremely difficult conditions, providing fighter cover for strike aviation groups and striking enemy targets.

“Ukrainian pilots work at the limit of their human and technical capabilities, risking their lives every time they carry out a combat mission. Pavel was one of them!” the statement says.

All the circumstances of this tragedy are being investigated by an interdepartmental commission, which has already begun its work.