ENG
10532 visitors online
In 2025, Ukrainian aircraft pilots played a crucial role in defending their nation during ongoing conflicts. The Mi-24 helicopter crew from the 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade heroically stood their ground but was lost in a combat mission on December 17. The loss of Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Ivanov, a highly skilled navigator in the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, marked yet another tragedy amidst these critical operations. Ukrainian pilots, such as those flying the MiG-29 and Su-27, consistently showcase their valor by performing complex maneuvers and intercepting enemy missiles. This year also saw continued international efforts in pilot training, with countries like the Czech Republic and the UK enhancing the strategic capabilities of Ukrainian forces. The narrative of pilots like Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Borovyk, who tragically lost his life during a mission, reflects the grave sacrifices made in pursuit of national security and peace.
What incident involved the Mi-24 helicopter crew in 2025?
The Mi-24 helicopter crew from the 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade was tragically killed during a combat mission conducted on December 17, 2025. This incident highlights the critical and dangerous roles pilots take on in defending Ukraine from ongoing threats. These brave air crews are vital to the security efforts in contested regions and often pay the ultimate price in the protection of their nation.
What was significant about Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Ivanov's mission?
Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Ivanov, serving as a senior navigator in the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed during a crucial combat mission in 2025. Piloting a Su-27 aircraft, his mission was essential for coordinating aerial defense operations in Eastern Ukraine. The loss of Lt. Col. Ivanov underscores the challenges and risks faced by aircraft pilots working in high-tension combat environments.
How did Ukrainian pilots impact the defense against Russian missile attacks?
Ukrainian pilots have been instrumental in intercepting Russian missile threats. For example, a Ukrainian Mirage fighter pilot successfully destroyed a Kh-101 cruise missile during a widespread Russian assault. Such actions are critical in maintaining the defensive perimeter and protecting civilian areas from potential strikes. These pilots' expertise and quick actions significantly strengthen Ukraine's aerial defense capabilities.
What are some examples of international pilot training initiatives in 2025?
Throughout 2025, international collaborations have bolstered the training of Ukrainian pilots. The Czech Republic announced a program to train eight Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters, aiming for completion by the year's end. Similarly, the UK has hosted pilot training sessions, accelerating their skills on new aircraft models. These initiatives are essential components of Ukraine's broader strategy to enhance its aerial defense infrastructure and foster international military cooperation.
Who was Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Borovyk, and what was his contribution?
Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Borovyk was a distinguished pilot and Hero of Ukraine who served in the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade. Known for his exemplary service, he, unfortunately, lost his life in September 2025 during a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia sector. His contributions were pivotal in executing complex air operations and defending Ukrainian territories. His bravery and dedication remain an inspiration for future generations of military aviators.
How has the UK contributed to training Ukrainian pilots recently?
The UK has played a significant role in training Ukrainian pilots, part of a broader international effort to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities. This training included basic flight, ground, and language skills, preparing pilots for advanced combat and strategic missions. As a result, Ukrainian pilots have gained valuable experience and are better prepared for the challenges of modern aerial warfare.
News air pilot, aircraft pilot
Ukrainian air force struck 17 Russian troop concentrations with GBU-39, JDAM-ER and AASM HAMMER air-to-ground bombs. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force has carried out a series of strikes on Russian troop positions across various sectors of the front. 10 788 14 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces
MiG-29 crews destroy Russian UAV operators’ command post with aerial bomb. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force struck a command post used by Russian UAV operators. 2 814 2 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 crew destroys occupiers’ strongpoint and ammunition depot in Komar, Donetsk region, with GBU-39 bombs. VIDEO A Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 crew struck a Russian strongpoint and ammunition depot in the settlement of Komar. 3 148 3 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Ukrainian aircraft used AASM HAMMER bombs to destroy bridge used by occupiers for logistics. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force fighter crews struck a bridge used by Russian forces to support their military logistics. 4 400 4 Previously in trend: Strikes on Russian logistics Air operations of AFU
Using aerial reconnaissance coordinates provided by marines from 34th Brigade, Air Force destroyed command post for Russian UAV operators in Oleshky. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force carried out an air strike on a command post used by Russian drone operators in the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region. 3 751 0 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces fightings in Kherson region Air operations of AFU
Air Force fighter crews destroy occupiers’ concentration area and motor vehicles with precision airstrike. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilots carried out a precision air strike on a concentration of Russian troops and motorcycles. 3 644 1 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Fighter pilot films destruction of Russian aerial target over Mykolaiv. VIDEO Footage has been published online showing a Ukrainian Air Force pilot destroying a Russian aerial target over Mykolaiv. 3 156 8 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds Destruction of Russian drones Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 fighter pilots intercepted Russian ’Shahed’ with R-73 missile. VIDEO MiG-29 fighter pilots from the Ukrainian Air Force intercepted and destroyed a Russian‘Shahed’-type kamikaze drone during one of the enemy’s air attacks. 32 790 3 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds Destruction of Russian drones Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 crews carried out a series of air strikes against Russian infantry using GBU-39 and GBU-62 bombs. VIDEO Crews of MiG-29 fighter jets from the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a series of air strikes against Russian infantry on one section of the front line. 7 629 6 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 pilots destroyed command post of drone operators from Russian Armed Forces’ 50th UAV Brigade. VIDEO Pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a precision air strike on a command post used by Russian drone operators. 2 863 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Two MiG-29 pilots wipe out Russian assault groups and drone command post in Sumy direction. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force pilots carried out a powerful airstrike on a concentration of Russian assault groups and a drone control post in the Sumy sector. 3 955 1 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Fighting in Sumy region Air operations of AFU
Air Force pilots, supported by intelligence, take out occupiers’ ammunition and personnel. VIDEO Ukrainian aircraft carried out a powerful airstrike on an ammunition stockpile and Russian personnel in one sector of the front. 2 403 3 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 pilot shows R-73 missile destroying jet-powered Shahed. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilots destroyed a Russian Shahed-type jet-powered kamikaze drone during one of the enemy’s aerial attacks. 4 389 2 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds Destruction of Russian drones
MiG-29 pilots destroy command post of Russian UAV operators from 36th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade in Zaporizhzhia sector. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force fighter crews, working in coordination with Air Assault Forces units, destroyed a command post used by Russian UAV operators in the Zaporizhzhia sector. 4 260 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces
Air Force pilots destroyed base of Russian UAV operators in air strike. VIDEO Pilots from the Ukrainian Air Force carried out an air strike on a base used by Russian drone operators. 2 783 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force pilots carried out air strike on hideout used by Russian UAV operators, which had been identified by "Pegasus" battalion. VIDEO Pilots from the Ukrainian Air Force carried out an air strike on the base of Russian drone operators, who had been detected by operators from the ‘Pegas’ Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battalion of the 1st Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade. 4 093 6 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Ukrainian air force destroyed base for Russian UAV operators in Kotlyne using GBU bombs. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force carried out a powerful air strike on enemy positions in the village of Kotlyne in the Pokrovsk sector. 4 129 6 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force destroyed base of "Rubicon" unit’s UAV operators in Pokrovsk. VIDEO Ukrainian fighter pilots from the Air Force carried out a precision air strike on the base of Russian drone operators in Pokrovsk. 4 351 4 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction
Air Force fighter crews destroy concentration of Russian UAV operators. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force crews carried out a precision air strike on a location housing Russian unmanned aerial vehicle operators. 2 690 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces
Air strike on Russian UAV operators’ post: occupier was thrown out of building’s window by blast wave. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force has carried out another strike against Russian drone units on one section of the front line. 8 834 12 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force MiG-29 crews destroyed occupiers’ crossings and bridges with GBU-39 bombs. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force pilots carried out a series of air strikes on the logistics routes of the Russian occupation forces. 4 903 1 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force fighter crews destroyed building housing occupiers’ assault groups in Kostiantynivka. VIDEO Pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a precision air strike on a concentration of Russian occupation forces in Kostiantynivka. 4 463 8 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Kostiantynivka direction Air operations of AFU
Su-27 fighter pilots hit buildings housing occupiers’ assault groups with aerial bombs near Kostiantynivka. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force pilots carried out a series of precision air strikes on concentrations of Russian assault groups in the Kostiantynivka sector. 5 704 9 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Kostiantynivka direction Air operations of AFU
Ukraine has received new batch of F-16 mobile simulators for pilot training, - Ministry of Defence. VIDEO Ukraine has received a new batch of F-16 mobile simulators. There are only a handful of such systems in the world. 1 292 2 Previously in trend: F-16 pilot training
MiG-29 fighter crews of Air Force struck occupiers’ logistics route with two GBU aerial bombs. VIDEO MiG-29 fighter crews from the Ukrainian Air Force struck a logistics route used by Russian occupation forces. 4 214 1 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Elimination of Russian occupying forces Strikes on Russian logistics Air operations of AFU
Air Force struck building housing occupiers in Kostiantynivka, whilst FPV drone from 156th Separate Mechanised Brigade eliminated last Russian soldier. VIDEO The Ukrainian military carried out a joint operation involving aircraft and attack drones, striking a gathering of Russian troops in Kostiantynivka. 5 247 9 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Destruction of the occupiers’ firing positions Kostiantynivka direction
Crews of Air Force Su-27 fighter jets destroyed concentration of occupiers’ assault groups in Rodynske. VIDEO Crews of Su-27 fighter jets from the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a precision air strike on a concentration of Russian assault units in Rodynske. 4 399 2 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force shows series of air strikes on ruscists’ assault groups and Russian UAV control points. VIDEO Pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a series of high-precision air strikes on the occupiers’ military facilities in different sections of the front. 3 689 6 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force pilots destroy site of Russian UAV operators with GBU-62 bombs. VIDEO Ukraine’s Air Force carried out a precise airstrike on the location of Russian drone operators, who had been detected in time by Ukrainian intelligence. 4 228 7 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Ukrainian aircraft destroyed base of Russian assault groups and ammunition depot in Kamianske. VIDEO Ukrainian aircraft carried out a precision strike on a base for Russian assault groups and an ammunition depot in Kamianske. 3 444 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Fighter pilots destroy base of Russian UAV operators with direct hit by aerial bomb. VIDEO Ukrainian aircraft carried out a precise strike on a building where Russian drone operators were based. 3 289 6 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Crew of Mi-8 helicopter were killed whilst shooting down Russian drones in Poltava region. PHOTOS On 30 June 2026, whilst carrying out a combat mission in the Poltava region to intercept Russian drones, four crew members of a Mi-8 helicopter from the helicopter squadron of the 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Brody" were killed. 13 528 26 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine
Ukrainian aviation destroys concentration site of occupiers and ammunition near Rodynske. VIDEO Fighter crews of the Ukrainian Air Force carried out an air strike on a site where Russian occupiers' manpower and ammunition were concentrated. 3 409 1 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction Air operations of AFU
Su-27 fighter pilots destroyed bridge used by occupiers to transport equipment and attack aircraft. VIDEO Crews of Su-27 fighter jets from the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a precision air strike on a bridge that Russian troops were using to support their logistics operations. 10 470 13 Previously in trend: Strikes on Russian logistics Air operations of AFU
Pilots of Mi-8MTV and Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters strike occupiers’ positions with unguided aerial rockets. VIDEO Pilots of Mi-8MTV and Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force filmed footage of combat work against enemy positions. 2 989 2 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force fighter crews destroy concentration of Russian assault troops with AASM HAMMER bomb. VIDEO Fighter pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force carried out an airstrike on a concentration point of Russian troops. 3 375 3 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Elimination of Russian occupiers Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 pilot destroys enemy aerial target with R-73 missile during night combat sortie. VIDEO Footage has been published online showing a Ukrainian Air Force pilot destroying an enemy aerial target. 3 070 2 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds Air operations of AFU
Ukraine bids farewell to pilot Bohdan Zahorulko and navigator Bohdan Babenko, who died in Su-24M crash in Khmelnytskyi region. PHOTOS Ukraine has bid farewell to 55-year-old test pilot Bohdan Zahorulko and 23-year-old navigator Bohdan Babenko, who died on June 16 in the crash of a Su-24M aircraft in the Khmelnytskyi region. 4 053 62 Previously in trend: Su-24M crashed in Khmelnytskyi region
Ukrainian air force destroyed the deployment site of Russian UAV operators. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force carried out a strike on a location where Russian UAV operators were stationed. 4 215 3 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Elimination of Russian occupiers
Air Force pilots destroy Russian infantry hideouts, UAV operators and fortifications with GBU-39 bombs. VIDEO Pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force carried out a series of air strikes on concentrations of Russian infantry, UAV operators, and enemy fortifications. 2 461 2 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Air Force pilots destroyed occupiers’ "Molniya" UAV command post using GBU-62 aerial bombs. VIDEO Crews of Ukrainian Air Force fighter jets carried out an air strike on a command post for the Russian occupiers’ ‘Molniya’ UAVs. 4 776 3 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Destruction of the occupiers’ firing positions
Ukraine receives 10 ALTO NG aircraft to train military pilots – Defence Ministry Ukrainian military pilots will master the skies on 10 new ALTO NG training aircraft, which Ukraine received thanks to the Air Force Capability Coalition, the Czech government, and the Dárek pro Putina charity fund. 1 975 2 Previously in trend: Aid to Ukraine from the Czech Republic
Su-27 pilots destroyed Russian infantry concentration near Udachne. VIDEO Ukrainian Air Force pilots flying Su-27 fighter jets struck a concentration of Russian infantry near the village of Udachne in the Donetsk region. 6 424 17 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Elimination of Russian occupiers
MiG-29 fighter pilots struck Russian UAV command post along with its personnel. VIDEO Pilots from the Ukrainian Air Force carried out an air strike on an enemy UAV command post on one section of the front line. 3 545 3 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
MiG-29 crews destroyed a building housing a concentration of occupiers with two air strikes. VIDEO Crews of MiG-29 fighter jets from the Ukrainian Air Force struck a Russian military base on one section of the front line. 6 114 7 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Su-24M bomber crashed in Khmelnytskyi region: pilot and navigator killed In the Khmelnytskyi region, at around 7 pm on 16 June 2026, a Su-24M frontline bomber belonging to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franko of the Ukrainian Air Force crashed. The crew were killed. 14 019 33 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine Ukraine lost aircraft
MiG-29 pilots destroyed Russian UAV operator base using AASM HAMMER bombs. VIDEO Pilots from the Ukrainian Air Force have struck a base housing Russian drone operators on one of the eastern sectors of the front line. 3 267 4 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Crews of Su-27s from 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade destroyed gathering of occupiers. VIDEO Pilots from the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force, flying Su-27 fighter jets, struck enemy personnel. 5 010 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Page 1 of 3
more news
