"PPO pratsue": the first of the six F-16s transferred to Ukraine was shot down by the Ukrainian air defense

The F-16 with Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Mes was shot down by "friendly" fire from the Ukrainian air defense. This is reported by Voice of America*, citing its own sources in the air forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the crash of the F-16 fighter transferred to Ukraine, indicating "pilot error" as the reason.

The death of the first Ukrainian F-16 pilot Alexei Mesya was previously confirmed by the Air forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the destruction of the first of six American fighters. Communication with the pilot was lost during the repulse of the Russian massive missile strike.

As previously reported, The Wall Street Journal, citing an American official, reported the destruction of the first of the US-made F-16 fighters transferred to Kiev.

"Recently, Kiev received six aircraft to intensify the fight against Russia, which is a key symbol of US support. According to a US official, the Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet was destroyed in a crash on Monday, just a few weeks after the first of the American-made aircraft arrived on the Ukraine," the article says.

As reported by EADaily, while performing a combat mission on Monday, August 26, Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Mes, deputy commander of the task force from the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed. VS APU. This was announced by the mayor of Lutsk Igor Polishchuk. "Lieutenant Colonel Mes Alexey Sergeevich died on August 26, 2024 during a combat mission," the mayor wrote on his social media account.

*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent