While destroying the final target, the aircraft sustained damage and began to lose altitude. The pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas, preventing civilian casualties — but did not manage to eject in time.

#Maksym_Ustymenko will forever be 32.

From t.me/pravdaGerash...

Last night, First Class pilot Lieutenant Colonel #Maksym_Ustymenko was killed while flying an #F_16 aircraft and defending #Ukraine’s skies from a #Russian attack.

#Maksym used the full range of onboard weapons and shot down seven #Russian targets.