Three Ukrainian military pilots, including a “mega talent”, were killed when two L-39 combat training aircraft collided over a region west of Kyiv on Friday, the air force has said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is relying on the swift training of crews to fly up to 61 F-16 fighter jets, said in his nightly video address that the three men included Andriy Pilshchykov, nicknamed ‘Juice’, “a Ukrainian officer, one of those who greatly helped our state”.

Ukraine war latest – Putin orders Wagner troops to swear oath of allegiance

Air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat described Pilshchykov as a “mega talent” and leader of reforms.

“You can’t even imagine how much he wanted to fly an F-16,” Mr Ihnat wrote on his Facebook page. “But now that American planes are actually on the horizon, he will not fly them.”

Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office announced a criminal investigation had been opened into whether flight preparation rules were violated.

“It is too early to discuss details. Certainly, all circumstances will be clarified,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

US imposes sanctions on people accused of helping to deport children from Ukraine

Prigozhin ‘dead’ – what next for Putin and Ukraine?

Prigozhin crash: Military analyst Sean Bell on what the footage tells us

The air force announced the crash on its Telegram app. “We express our condolences to the families of the victims. This is a painful and irreparable loss for all of us,” it said.

Mr Zelenskyy noted that the third Saturday in August is also when Ukrainian military and civilian aviation celebrate their professional day, and said the introduction of F-16s would mark a “new level” for military aviation.

“This will also bring civil aviation back to the Ukrainian skies, as it will move us closer to victory and provide Ukraine with greater security,” he said.

Read more:
How a group of children escaped deportation
Who was on private jet that crashed in Russia?

Click to subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever you get your podcasts

Radio Svoboda shared video of blackened, mangled aircraft remains being removed from a field far from the frontlines at the village of Sinhury, about 90 miles west of Kyiv.

In the video, an unnamed man said he heard an explosion in the air above a school building and then two planes falling in smoke and flames.

A woman described seeing two planes flying at a distance from one another then coming closer and closer to each other before the crash.

Military analyst and former pilot Roman Svitan, in an interview posted by online outlet Espreso TV, said the crash was “most likely” related to formation flying.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

He said the standard distance was 50-70 metres but that sometimes planes flew practically on top of each other at a distance of 3 to 4 metres.

He said the L-39 is an attack aircraft and training plane but that in formation flying, especially at low altitudes, “there’s no time for ejection”.

Mr Zelenskyy offered condolences to the pilots’ families and added the the country “will never forget anyone who defended the free skies of Ukraine”.

Related posts:

Ireland’s health service shuts down IT systems over ‘significant ransomware attack’ ‘German Greta’ says UN climate talks were ‘hopeless’ ‘Do what is morally right’: WHO sets target of vaccinating 70% of world by mid-2022 As Le Pen closes in on Macron, here’s everything you need to know about the French election Macron calls Polish PM ‘far-right anti-Semite’ after criticism of his Putin calls Pakistan PM Imran Khan ousted after losing no confidence vote Putin rails against Western ‘dictatorship’ as he declares four Ukrainian regions as Russian ‘Bondi Beast’ serial rapist identified by police almost 40 years after first attack Christian Eriksen makes return in major tournament 17 months after cardiac arrest on pitch Deadly fire at New Zealand hostel is being treated as suspicious World’s most famous human ancestor ‘could walk just like us’ Subway condemned over ‘distasteful’ Titan sub tragedy sign