Ukrainian pilot Ustymenko was posthumously hailed a national hero after sacrificing his life during the largest single-night Russian air attack in over three years of war. Ustymenko successfully shot down seven drones and missiles before his aircraft was critically damaged. Despite losing control, he steered his jet away from populated areas, avoiding civilian casualties, but had no time to eject and died in the crash.
The overnight attack saw 537 drones and missiles launched by Russia, a grim record since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles, but 226 projectiles bypassed defenses through electronic jamming or decoy tactics.
At least 12 civilians, including children, were injured in the widespread strikes that hit six regions. In Cherkasy, missiles struck apartment buildings and a college, prompting emergency evacuations. In Lviv, drone strikes caused power outages after hitting an industrial facility.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Ustymenko Ukraine’s highest honor, calling him a skilled aviator who had defended Ukraine since 2014 and mastered four different aircraft types. The incident underscored the urgency of Ukraine’s need for advanced air defense systems, especially as Russia escalates with swarming attacks. This week alone, Russia has launched 1,270 drones, 114 missiles, and 1,100 glide bombs, according to Ukrainian military data.
In a fresh appeal, Zelenskyy called on the United States and Western allies to provide Patriot missile systems, stressing that Ukraine is ready to purchase them but needs political support from Washington, where President Trump has shown reluctance on advancing further aid.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed gains on the ground, announcing the capture of Novoukrainka village in Donetsk and the downing of Ukrainian drones in border areas. The war has also taken a toll on Ukraine’s modern air fleet, with Ustymenko’s death marking the third loss of an F-16 fighter jet since August 2024. Analysts have warned that while F-16s are effective against fast, high-altitude targets, they are less suited for combating cheap, low-flying drone swarms, which Russia increasingly uses to exhaust Ukraine’s defenses.
As Kyiv mourns the loss of a brave pilot, the scale and intensity of the attack serve as a stark reminder of the growing pressure on Ukraine’s stretched air defense systems and the political stalemates threatening crucial military support.
