Colonel Yuriy Ihnat shared insight into the historical mission (Picture: East2West News)
A pilot has set a new record in Ukraine’s history using a US F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter.
It is the first time ever that six of Vladimir Putin’s missiles, which are worth millions, were destroyed in a single combat mission using the aircraft.
The attack happened as Russia unleashed almost 200 drones, Kinzhal air missiles, ballistic weapons, and land-based cruise missiles in Ukraine’s sky on December 13.
Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, head of the public relations service of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, said that even their US allies could not believe what was accomplished in the mission.
After a conversation with the unnamed pilot, Ihnat reported on what he had said after: ‘Intercepting such important targets is not an easy task for a pilot, but who, if not Ukrainian pilots, has more experience in combat work with cruise missiles in the world?
‘The guidance navigator took me to enemy targets, a group of eight cruise missiles on the course.
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‘I see the obstacles… launched the air-to-air missiles in turn and… bang.’
Four air-to-air missiles were deployed alongside the jet’s cannon to achieve this ‘unthinkable’ feat.
‘Shooting down cruise missiles with cannon is very risky due to the high speed of the target and the risk of detonation,’ the pilot said.
‘But I acted as the instructors in the USA taught me, and I managed to hit them.
Ukraine received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets in August 2024 (Picture: Air Force Command Ukraine/e2w)
‘As it turned out, two of the missiles were flying next to each other were destroyed at the same time.’
Ihnat said that after successfully completing the mission, the pilot was greeted with applause at the airfield.
Ukraine received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets in August 2024, which became a crucial milestone in the war.
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