Ukraine ‘shot down their own F-16 fighter jet killing ace pilot ‘Moonfish’ in friendly fire blunder with US missile’

UKRAINE has misplaced its first F-16 fighter jet in a suspected friendly fire blunder with a US Patriot missile.

Commanders misplaced contact with heroic pilot Moonfish throughout a large Russian missile bombardment this week.

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Heroic F-16 pilot Oleksii ‘Moonfish’ Mes is suspected to have died in a friendly fire blunder with a US Patriot missileCredit: East2West

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The funeral of Oleksiy where the pilot was buried saw troops pay their respectsCredit: East2West

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A portrait of Moonfish honouring the brave pilotCredit: AFP

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A Ukrainian soldier holds a crying woman at the funeral of OleksiyCredit: Getty

The lieutenant colonel – whose real name is Oleksii Mes, 31 – had shot down three cruise missiles and a Russian zone before roaring off to a second engagement.

The F-16 had “demonstrated high efficiency” in its takedown of the enemy, the Ukrainian General Staff said.

But tragically the jet was later found crashed on Monday with officials saying an anti-aircraft missile system shot Moonfish out of the sky by accident.

Government MP Maryana Bezugla said: “According to my information, the F-16 of the Ukrainian pilot Oleksii ‘Moonfish’ Mes was shot down by the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system as a result of an absence of coordination between the [military] items.”

Tributes to Moonfish have been made on social media after he died with Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk saying he was combating to “protect the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine”.

His funeral was held in Shepetivka on Thursday as a part of a Day of Remembrance.

Touching pictures present his casket draped in a Ukrainian flag and surrounded by flowers on the ceremony of burial.

Dozens of his household, mates and fellow troops have been seen breaking down in tears on the transferring ceremony.

Ukraine’s Air Pressure Command spoke on his loss of life saying: “Oleksii Mes was a strong and dedicated warrior, a highly skilled pilot, a leader on the ground and in the sky, a good friend, a loving son, father, husband, and a patriot of his country.

“A pair of MiG-29 fighters paid their respects from the sky. Oleksii’s comrades-in-arms flew over the procession. 

“By order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksiy Mes was posthumously promoted to the rank of Colonel.

“We have lost a reliable friend and a strong warrior.”

4 ways Ukraine’s game-changing Kursk siege could spark end of war and how ‘wild-card’ dictator may swoop in to cut deal

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said she could not confirm if the jet was downed by the Patriot system or not. 

However Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of Ukraine’s air force, has said they are working with the US on the investigation.

A number of F-16s jets soared into the skies on Sunday to intercept Russian rockets and drones.

Moscow unleashed more than 300 missiles and drones, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iranian Shahed one-way attack drones and submarine launched Kalibr cruise missiles.

The Russian attacks were one of the biggest attacks of the war and caused “significant damage” to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky revealed: “We shot down some missiles with the help of F-16s.”

Zelensky confirmed on August 4 that his pilots had started flying F-16s.

He hailed the moment as a major milestone in the fight against the invasion Russia launched at the start of 2022.

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The moment Oleksiy was buriedCredit: East2West

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A pair of MiG-29 fighters paid their respects from the sky at the funeralCredit: East2West

Allied forces have pledged more than 90 F-16s to bolster Ukraine’s air defences.

However solely a handful have been delivered to this point.

F-16s have been extremely wanted by Ukraine for their capability to take out floor targets, present cowl, intercept missiles and tackle enemy planes in dogfights.

They’re essentially the most refined American-supplied weapon of the warfare.

However there have been issues over whether or not Ukraine might prepare up sufficient pilots in time to successfully deploy them in their combat for land.

A determined Vladimir Putin is reportedly even providing big money incentives – as a lot as £124,000 – for troops to take down the Western plane.

It comes as Russians advised The Solar they by no means thought concerning the massacre warfare raging on their doorstep till Kyiv’s lightning assault into Kursk brought the conflict crashing home.

The Sun stepped into sovereign Russia – despite Kremlin threats to kill or convict us – to speak to ordinary Russians left stranded by their soldiers’ humiliating retreat.

Why are F-16s so important?

F-16s are fourth generation fighter planes – the second most advanced type used by the West.

Also known as the Fighting Falcon or Viper, the multi-role planes are the most popular fighter jet in the world – with nearly 4,500 deployed.

The planes can hit speeds of Mach 2 – around 1,350mph – and can carry 17,000lbs worth of missiles and bombs.

Alongside their devastating 10mm Vulcan rotary cannons, the planes can be equipped with weapons such as Sidewinder and Maverick missiles as well as Paveway bombs.

Retired US Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton previously said the fighter planes would be a “recreation changer” for Ukraine.

“Its actually versatile and can be utilized in many various methods,” he advised CNN.

“And it is also an plane that may probably use its digital jamming functionality to go after a number of the Russian radars.

“It’s a very important aircraft, it’s probably the best aircraft for all the different capabilities the Ukrainians could want, and its probably the only aircraft that has all those in one package.”

KURSK OFFENSIVE CONTINUES

Kyiv’s troops have now captured 100 cities in the shock surge into Kursk that caught the Russians off-guard, it is claimed.

Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi additionally stated his males had seized almost 600 Russian troopers.

The Ukrainians declare to now management 500 sq. miles of the area in the largest takeover of Russian soil for the reason that Nazis invaded in World Conflict Two.

Russian stories earlier in the week stated Ukraine tried a daring secondary invasion into the neighbouring Belgorod area.

Moscow claimed to have the Belgorod border “under control” however admitted it was “difficult”.

Professional-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot stated the Ukrainians have been pushed again however stored firing at Russian checkpoints.

Russia’s slowed response to the Kursk invasion comes with Vlad stated to be reluctant to drag many troops from Ukraine as he tries to dig deeper into the nation’s east.

However Putin has discovered one other 30,000 troops to hurry into Kursk, additionally showing to name in reinforcements from Russia-friendly Belarus.

A worrying subplot to the fierce combating in Kursk has been the destiny of the area’s nuclear energy plant.

The chief of the United Nations’ nuclear company this week flew in to examine the positioning, which is situated about 25 miles from the warmth of battle.

Worldwide Atomic Power Company boss Rafael Grossi warned there’s a “danger or possibility of a nuclear accident” that would trigger “serious consequences”.

Heightening fears is the truth that the plant will not be lined by a protecting roof, that means a strike on it may very well be devastating.

The Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine has additionally been the topic of nuclear concern for the reason that early days of the warfare, with the Russians and Ukrainians each accusing one another of endangering it.

However these fears haven’t been realised amid determined hopes of avoiding a Chernobyl-style catastrophe.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed on August 4 his pilots had began flying F-16s.Credit score: Reuters

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Ukraine has obtained quite a lot of F-16s from the West to again its defence towards RussiaCredit score: Getty

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