KYIV/LVIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, was killed in action while repelling one of the most intense Russian air assaults to date, authorities confirmed on June 29. The overnight attack involved 477 drones and 60 cruise and ballistic missiles, causing destruction across multiple Ukrainian cities.

President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded Ustymenko the title of Hero of Ukraine, the country’s highest military honor, praising his bravery and lifetime of service.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ustymenko used all available munitions to shoot down seven enemy targets, but his aircraft was fatally damaged before he could eject. “He flew the damaged jet away from a settlement, sacrificing himself to save others,” the Air Force stated.

Zelensky used the occasion to renew calls for increased support from the United States and Western allies, emphasizing Ukraine’s urgent need for advanced air defense systems. “Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense – the thing that best protects lives,” he said.

Families in Kyiv took shelter in metro stations as machine-gun fire and explosions echoed across the capital. In Lviv, a region less frequently attacked, critical infrastructure was struck. Explosions were also heard in Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The Ukrainian military said it successfully destroyed 211 drones and 38 missiles, while another 225 drones were either decoys or downed through electronic warfare.

Three F-16s have now been lost since Ukraine began operating the US-made jets in 2024. Although Kyiv has not disclosed the exact size of its fleet, the F-16s are considered a core component of its air defense strategy.

Military analyst Roman Svitan previously warned that the F-16 is not optimized for drone defense, being more suitable for high-speed targets.

Zelensky noted that Ustymenko had flown combat missions since 2014, during the early conflict against Russian-backed separatists. “He mastered four types of aircraft. It is painful to lose such people,” Zelensky said in his nightly address.

During the latest wave of attacks, 11 people, including 2 children, were injured in the Cherkasy region, where apartment buildings and a college were damaged. Another woman was injured in Ivano-Frankivsk.

As Russia ramps up its aerial bombardment, Zelensky warned that “Moscow will not stop” unless it is deprived of the capability to conduct massive strikes. He noted that over just the past week, Russia launched 114 missiles, 1,270 drones, and 1,100 glide bombs.

Meanwhile, Russia’s RIA Novosti agency claimed a Ukrainian drone killed one person in Russian-occupied Luhansk. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians.

In terms of political momentum, Ukraine continues to push Washington for more aid. Despite President Donald Trump’s reluctance to authorize new packages, he recently met Zelensky at the June 25 NATO summit, and is reportedly considering Ukraine’s request for more Patriot missile systems.

“This war must be brought to an end – pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection,” Zelensky posted on X, urging for “leadership, political will, and real support.”