President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Captain Pavlo Ivanov, aged 26, died on Apr. 12, 2025, during a combat mission flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
In a statement on X/Twitter, President Zelenskyy offered his condolences to Ivanov’s family and his fellow personnel. He confirmed that the circumstances of the incident are still under investigation by the Ukrainian military.
Today, Captain Pavlo Ivanov was tragically killed during an F-16 combat mission. The guy was only 26. My condolences to his family and to all of Pavlo’s brothers-in-arms.
Military officials provided the necessary reports on this combat situation. We are establishing all the…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 12, 2025
The Ukrainian Air Force separately released its own statement via Telegram, confirming the same details as President Zelenskyy. While it is not mentioned in either statement, the tragic loss of Captain Ivanov likely indicates that the F-16 airframe involved was also lost.
One previous F-16 loss is publicly known, however it is possible further aircraft have been destroyed or damaged on the ground during Russian airstrikes. The total number of F-16s delivered to Ukraine is unclear. Regular batches of aircraft are being received, with the latest arriving in March and another delivery due in the near future.
*He was 26.
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) April 12, 2025
This loss of an F-16 comes only days following a comment from the head of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) stating that Ukraine’s F-16 force is flying daily defensive and offensive missions.
Reports from Ukrainian pilots on the F-16’s performance are very positive, confirming that the aircraft and the weapons it can employ have been highly effective during combat missions.
Early in the morning of Apr. 12, footage showed Ukrainian capital Kyiv bathed under a sky of anti-aircraft fire as Ukrainian forces attempted to defend against a massive attack by Russian drones. Massive plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the city’s skyline.
While it is only possible to speculate at this stage, it is possible that the F-16 incident took place during defensive operations against this attack, or an offensive mission launched in response to it.
Kyiv during Russian drone attack this early morning. pic.twitter.com/CtwYiSlGx5
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) April 12, 2025
The introduction of the F-16 was an important milestone in Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. While the nation’s Soviet-designed aircraft had successfully been adapted to employ a number Western munitions, it is reported that many were not able to be operated with the same level of capability as on a jet equipped with NATO standard interfaces and systems.
The time and effort taken to adapt these systems is now also removed, as many are already compatible with the F-16s. This not only includes weapons, but also advanced sensors and electronic warfare pods.
F-16 from the Ukrainian Air Force spotted. Equipped with two external fuel tanks for extended range and an AN/ALQ-131 electronic warfare system to protect against enemy radars and targeting systems. pic.twitter.com/wQMYRRO4EC
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) March 18, 2025
Although it cannot negate the tragic nature of losing a pilot, the loss of the advanced equipment donated by Western nations is a natural consequence of high-tempo warfare. While the capability offered by these systems, whether they be aircraft, tanks, surface to air missile batteries, or anything else, is often exemplary, they are not invincible, and combat losses are certain to occur as the war continues.
