On the night of August 23, 2025, two Ukrainian pilots – Major Serhiy Bondar and Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustimenko – died while performing combat missions.
Major Bondar, born in 1979, died on a MiG-29 fighter jet after performing a combat mission during an approach. The causes and circumstances of the crash are currently being established, and a thorough investigation is underway. Colleagues remember him as an experienced pilot, dedicated to his work and the safety of the crew.
Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustimenko, born in 1993, was at the controls of an F-16 fighter jet during a massive enemy air attack. He successfully destroyed seven air targets, but his plane was damaged, began to lose altitude, and the pilot died during the mission.
Both incidents were a heavy blow to Ukrainian military aviation. The pilots remain an example of professionalism and dedication to their junior colleagues, and experts continue to investigate the circumstances of the events.
