Ukraine's F-16 pilot killed in combat mission

Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian pilot, was killed in a combat mission while flying an F-16 fighter jet Saturday, said the Ukrainian Air Force, reported Xinhua.

"All the circumstances of the tragedy are being investigated by an interdepartmental commission, which has already begun its work," the Air Force said in a statement.

The statement noted that Ukrainian F-16 pilots often perform combat missions in "incredibly difficult" conditions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered his condolences to the pilot's family.

Ukraine received the first batch of F-16 fighter jets in August 2024.