F-16, during the massive rocket attacks on August 26, was shot down with the help of Patriot air defense systems due to the lack of coordination between the units of the Ukrainian Air Force. This was stated by the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Mariana Bezuglaya.
"According to my information, the F-16 of the Ukrainian pilot Alexei "Moonfish" Mes was shot down by the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system due to discoordination between units. The reports noted that he "failed to manage." The event took place during one of the most powerful air attacks of the Russians on August 26. War is war, such episodes are possible. But the culture of lies in the Command of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as in other senior military staffs, leads to the fact that the system of managing military decisions does not improve on the basis of truthful, consistently collected analytics, but deteriorates and even collapses, as it happens in Pokrovsky direction. And none of the generals has been punished. General Oleschuk remains in office," she wrote.
Earlier, "Voice of America"*, citing its own sources in the air forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, confirmed that the F-16 with Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Mes was shot down by "friendly" fire of the Ukrainian air defense.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the crash of the F-16 fighter transferred to Ukraine, citing "pilot error" as the reason.
*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent