Ukrainian Pilot Shoots Down Six Cruise Missiles in Single Sortie

A Ukrainian pilot has been hailed as a hero after successfully shooting down six cruise missiles launched by Russia towards Ukraine. This feat, achieved during an attack in mid-December, marks a record for a Ukrainian pilot in a single sortie, according to the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, chief spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, detailed the incident during a press conference. He explained that the pilot, flying a US-supplied F-16 fighter jet, was tasked with intercepting and destroying the incoming missiles. These missiles, frequently used throughout the war, target critical national infrastructure and civilians.

The F-16 jets were provided by the US last August and work in conjunction with Western-supplied surface-to-air missile systems like Patriot and Nasams to protect Ukrainian airspace. In a statement, the unnamed pilot described how he accomplished this remarkable feat, utilizing all four of his air-to-air missiles before resorting to his cannon to destroy two additional missiles.

"Shooting down cruise missiles with cannon is very risky due to the high speed of the target and the risk of detonation," the pilot stated. He attributed his success to the training he received in the US, which equipped him with the necessary skills to execute this challenging maneuver.

"I acted as the instructors in the USA taught me, and I managed to hit," he recounted. "I understood that the chances of hitting a missile flying at 650 km-plus [400mph-plus] were slim. First, you need to find it in the sky, level off in altitude, and, from a distance of no more than 500 meters [1,640ft], fire ahead."

Colonel Ihnat highlighted this achievement to emphasize the significant contribution Ukrainian pilots will make to European security once Ukraine receives its own F-16 jets. "Just imagine what a formidable deterrent force in the centre of Europe the war-hardened Ukrainian pilots will be when, say, the F-35s enter service with the [Ukrainian] Air Force," he stated.