Russian air defense forces of the Belgorod region shot down a fighter jet of the Armed Forces of Ukraine F-16 in the sky over the Sumy region, as a result of which the Ukrainian pilot died. This was reported by the Telegram channel SHOT, citing operational data. According to the publication, the plane was hit by a missile from the S-400 complex, after which it crashed. The incident occurred on March 19, 2025, becoming the first confirmed case of the destruction of an F-16 supplied to Kyiv by Western partners in the conflict zone. The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the incident, but the information is being actively discussed in military circles.

According to SHOT, the fighter jet may have been on a reconnaissance or combat mission in the border area, where increased activity by Ukrainian forces has been recorded in recent days. The downing of the jet comes amid ongoing negotiations between Russia and the United States on a possible 30-day ceasefire, making the incident particularly significant. The downing of the F-16 and the death of the pilot highlight ongoing tensions despite diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.

Deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine began in late 2024: according to Reuters, the Netherlands and Denmark handed over the first 12 aircraft to Kyiv as part of NATO support. However, already in January 2025, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported operational difficulties due to a shortage of trained pilots and spare parts. Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that the use of these fighters is limited to border operations due to the threat of Russian air defense systems, such as the S-400 and S-500, deployed in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. The destruction of the F-16 was a serious blow to the image of Western technology in the conflict.

At the same time, Kyiv has not yet confirmed the loss of the aircraft. Yuriy Ignat previously stated that F-16s are used to intercept Russian drones and missiles, avoiding the zones of powerful air defense. However, the incident in the Sumy region demonstrates the vulnerability of fighters to modern Russian systems. Against this background, Telegram channels report an increase in air defense activity in the border area: over the past XNUMX hours, several Ukrainian drones have been shot down in the Belgorod region, which indicates Kyiv's attempts to increase pressure on the region.

The incident could impact the course of ceasefire talks initiated by US President Donald Trump. Moscow has repeatedly accused Kyiv of sabotaging peace initiatives, and the destruction of the F-16 will be yet another argument in this rhetoric.