A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet crashed on 29 July during a frontline mission to intercept Russian air targets, marking the fourth F-16 lost by Ukraine's air force since receiving the Western-supplied aircraft. The pilot ejected safely and was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment, authorities said.
The aircraft went down due to a technical malfunction while operating near the front line, according to Ukrainian military sources. Ukraine received its first F-16s in August 2024 from a coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands. The first F-16 was lost later that month, killing its pilot.
In separate developments, Ukrainian forces struck two Russian oil refineries overnight in the Perm and Ryazan regions, while Russian journalist Darya Shipacheva was sentenced to 12 years for treason.