Overview

• Lt. Col. Oleksiy Mes, known as 'Moonfish,' was killed when his F-16 was downed by a Patriot missile during a Russian attack.
• Mes was instrumental in lobbying for the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine and was one of the first pilots trained to fly them.
• President Zelensky dismissed Air Force Chief Mykola Oleshchuk following the incident, citing the need to protect personnel.
• Investigations suggest the F-16 was mistakenly targeted by friendly fire, raising questions about air defense coordination.
• The loss of Mes and the F-16 represents a significant setback for Ukraine's military efforts against Russian forces.