Ukrainian officers have revealed that three of its air pressure pilots, together with a famend fighter jet pilot with the call-sign “Juice”, have been killed in a mid-air collision on Friday native time.
They made the announcement on Saturday native time (Sunday AEDT).
The crash marks a significant upset for Kyiv, which has been trying to safe superior F-16 jets to strengthen its Soviet-era air pressure and push forward with its counteroffensive.
“We categorical our condolences to the households of the victims. This can be a painful and irreparable loss for all of us,” Ukraine’s air pressure stated, calling the crash “horrible”.
The crash befell in Ukraine’s northern Zhytomyr area and concerned two L-39 fight coaching plane, Ukraine’s air pressure stated, including that an investigation was underway.
Air pressure spokesperson Yuriy Ignat stated one of many pilots killed — Andrii Pilshchykov — who glided by the call-sign “Juice”, was a younger officer with “mega data and mega expertise”.
“Juice” defended central and northern Ukraine as a pilot from the “Ghost of Kyiv” unit.
“Main Andrii Pilshchykov devoted his quick however very brilliant life to fight aviation, he dreamed of F-16s within the Ukrainian sky,” Mr Ignat stated in a tribute shared on social media.
“You have been greater than a buddy. Relaxation in peace, you’ve got performed a lot for us,” he added.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy additionally addressed the catastrophe, sending his condolences to the pilots’ household and associates and saying they won’t be forgotten.
“Three pilots died. Amongst them was Andriy Pilshchykov, name signal Juice. He was a Ukrainian officer, a type of who helped our nation rather a lot. Rather a lot!” President Zelenskiy stated.
“In fact, Ukraine will always remember anybody who defended Ukraine’s free sky. Could they all the time be remembered!”
Protection of Ukraine additionally shared a tribute to Twitter, writing that the pilots can be remembered “each within the skies and on the bottom”.
In an interview with CNN final yr, the place “Juice’s” identification was protected by a helmet and by solely referring to him as his call-sign, the pilot defined his American call-sign.
“Throughout my journey within the US just a few years in the past, my associates from California Air Nationwide Guard named me as a result of I don’t drink alcohol, and each time within the bars I (was) simply asking for some juice,” he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
When requested how he felt about his function within the warfare, he merely replied “It’s simply my job”.
“I used to be educated for this, so I used to be prepared for this warfare, and I used to be ready for this warfare in addition to my cohorts.”
— With AFP
