First Class pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko was killed while flying an F-16 aircraft and defending Ukraine’s skies from a Russian attack.

Maksym used the full range of onboard weapons and shot down seven Russian targets.

While destroying the final target, the aircraft sustained damage and began to lose altitude. The pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas, preventing civilian casualties — but did not manage to eject in time.

Maksym Ustymenko will forever be 32.

Eternal memory and eternal glory to Ukrainian Hero.

: mes_yulia / inst
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1939226836556202102

Last night, First Class pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko was killed while flying an F-16 aircraft and defending Ukraine’s skies from a Russian attack.

Maksym used the full range of onboard weapons and shot down seven Russian targets.

While destroying the final target, the aircraft sustained damage and began to lose altitude. The pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas, preventing civilian casualties — but did not manage to eject in time.

Maksym Ustymenko will forever be 32.

Eternal memory and eternal glory to Ukrainian Hero.

: mes_yulia / inst
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1939226836556202102