Ukraine

Ukrainian fighter jet pilot reportedly killed in action in Donetsk Oblast

1 min read
Ukrainian fighter jet pilot reportedly killed in action in Donetsk Oblast
Major Andrii Tkachenko was killed during a combat mission on March 8, 2024. (The Sambir Plast regional organization/Facebook)

Major Andrii Tkachenko, a fighter aircraft pilot, was killed in a combat mission in Donetsk Oblast on March 8, scouting organization Plast reported on March 10.

Plast's branch in the town of Sambir, Lviv Oblast, mentioned his death in a Facebook post. Tkachenko was a member of Plast.

No other details about Tkachenko's death were provided.

Ukraine's Air Force hasn't commented on Tkachenko's death.

A month earlier, Vladislav Rykov, an experienced Ukrainian Air Force pilot, was also killed in action, the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade reported on social media.

Rykov “had 385 sorties under his belt — he was the best pilot and commander I knew,” fellow Air Force pilot Rostyslav Lazarenko posted on Facebook. “My heart was ripped out yesterday.”

In another incident from last August, three Ukrainian pilots, including Andrii Pilshchykov with the call sign “Juice,” died in a mid-air collision between two training jets.

F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American air superiority fighter that Kyiv has begged for since the start of the full-scale invasion and is expected to finally start receiving this year. It’s a versatile workhorse of a jet that’s fought in dozens of wars and is
Article image
Avatar
Alexander Khrebet

Reporter

Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.

Read more
News Feed

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov issued a new round of veiled threats towards Moldova on Oct. 12, warning Chisinau not to suffer from the same fate as Ukraine just weeks after an election that saw Moldova’s pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) secure a parliamentary majority.

Video

In Donetsk Oblast, volunteers from across the world serve in the International Battalion of Ukraine’s Azov Corps. On the battlefield dominated by drones, constant surveillance, and high-risk rotations, they navigate daily life and combat in one of the war’s most dangerous sectors.

 (Updated:  )

Ukrainian troops have liberated the village of Mali Shcherbaky in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine's 24th Separate Assault Battalion "Aidar" announced on Oct. 12, releasing footage purportedly showing Ukrainian soldiers in the settlement.

Show More