Another tragic incident was recorded in the history of the Ukrainian Air Force. On August 23, Major Sergey Bondar died while attempting to land his MiG-29 fighter after completing a combat mission. The pilot perished in the course of his service, which caused deep sorrow among Ukrainian military personnel and civilians. This was reported today by the official Telegram channel of the Ukrainian Air Force.
According to information, during the night, Russia once again carried out drone strikes on Ukrainian territory. An air raid alert was also sounded in Kyiv. Overall, across the country, 49 attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles were recorded, of which 36 were successfully repelled by the Ukrainian Air Force. Fighter pilots also actively participate in repelling air attacks.
It is currently unknown whether Sergey Bondar's death is related to Russian strikes. An investigation into the causes of the accident is ongoing, and additional details are not yet available.
This incident became a costly and severe blow to the Ukrainian Air Force. Since the beginning of the full-scale war with Russia, within three and a half years, several Ukrainian pilots have died while operating MiG-29 or F-16 aircraft. For example, on August 29, 2024, Ukraine lost its first F-16 pilot while repelling a massive missile attack. At that time, the 30-year-old pilot Alexey Mes was killed. Verkhovna Rada deputy Maryana Bezuglaya stated that the incident occurred due to a Patriot system missile striking its own target and accused the Armed Forces of Ukraine of attempting to conceal the incident.
Experts emphasize that this event is an important signal for the Ukrainian Air Force: the risks in military aviation are always high, and every pilot requires attention and caution. Furthermore, this incident has further strengthened public and family respect and sympathy toward the Air Force.
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