During a massive missile attack on August 26, a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet was accidentally shot down by its own forces using a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, said Maryana Bezugla, deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, pointing to a lack of coordination between units of the Ukrainian Air Force.

The incident resulted in the death of the fighter pilot, Alexei Mes, who was on board the downed aircraft. According to Bezugla, the problem of coordination between the various units involved in repelling the attack was a key factor that led to this tragic incident.