Three pilots killed in Ukrainian mid-air crash

Three Ukrainian pilots, including one of the most celebrated one, were killed, in a mid-air crash in the Northern Ukraine.

According to the reports, one of the fighter pilots killed in the crash was Andrii Pilshchykov, who had won fame for taking part in dogfights over Kyiv during the early phase of Russia's invasion.

The Ukrainian military called the airmen's deaths "painful and irreparable" losses, and paid tribute to Pilshchykov as a pilot, who was a true patriot.

Reports said that the crash involved two L-39 training planes flying over northern Ukraine.

An investigation was ordered into the crash, which was a huge loss for Ukraine and came at a time when it was all set to receive dozens of F-16 fighter jets from the Western countries for its ongoing counter-offensive against the Russian forces to reclaim the lost territories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deaths in his nightly video address, saying that his country would "never forget anyone who defended the free skies of Ukraine".

Melaniya Podolyak, a friend of Pilshchykov, also confirmed his death, posting an image of his Air Force badge on social media.

The crash and deaths are a major upset for Ukraine as it prepares to receive up to 61 F-16 fighter jets from its allies, in a bid to step up its counteroffensive. The training to fly F-16s is expected to take around five months.

The American decision earlier this year to supply F-16 jets represented an about-turn. This is because the US and its Nato allies - who had earlier ruled out the move - had feared this would lead to further escalation with nuclear-armed Russia.

A spokesman for Ukraine's Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, paid tribute to Pilshchykov in a statement posted on his Facebook page.