Two air force jets collide during training in Ukraine, killing three pilots

Two L-39 jet trainers belonging to Ukraine’s Air Forces collided in flight in the Zhytomyr region during training exercises on August 25.

The Air Forces reported that three Armed Forces of Ukraine pilots, who were aboard the jets, were killed, including the pilot Andrey Pilshikov, callsign Juice, of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade.

The Ukrainian authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash.

Ukrainian Pravda reports that pilot Andrey Pilshikov flew an MiG-29 fighter jet, had participated in the air defense of Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale war, and was vocal in interviews with international media in calling on the West to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.