Ukrainian F-16 Fighter Achieves First Air-to-Air Kill

The Ukrainian Air Force achieved the first air-to-air kill of the Russia-Ukraine war in July 2026 by downing a Russian Su-35 fighter jet with an F-16. Russian media confirmed the loss of the Su-35 and stated that the pilot survived. This event marks a strategic shift in the employment of F-16s in Ukraine, which had previously been utilized primarily for intercepting missiles and drones.

Shortly after this success, the Ukrainian Air Force announced on July 30, 2026, that another F-16 crashed during a frontline mission to intercept Russian airborne targets. The crash was attributed to a malfunction; the pilot ejected safely and received medical treatment.

These aerial engagements occurred alongside a broader campaign of Ukrainian strikes. Over a three-week period, Ukrainian units targeted 201 Russian vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Additionally, Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil refineries in the Perm and Ryazan regions, including a Lukoil refinery and a Wildberries facility.