A UKRAINIAN pilot has become a hero after shooting down six Russian cruise missiles in a single attack, marking a world first in anti-air combat. The F-16 fighter pilot achieved the feat during a Russian aerial assault on December 13. The pilot, who has not been named for his protection, admitted that the likelihood of hitting a missile travelling at over 650 km/h (more than 400 mph) was slim.
![[A Ukrainian F-16 pilot downed six cruise missiles in one mission, the Ukrainian Air Force has said]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ukrainian-f-16-pilot-downs-962195511.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"First, you need to find it in the sky, level off in altitude, and from a distance of no more than 500 meters, fire ahead," he explained. "Shooting down cruise missiles with cannons is very risky due to the high speed of the target and the risk of detonation.
![[Yuriy Ignat, colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, praised the pilot's success in what is a world-first]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/yuriy-ignat-47-colonel-armed-962195513.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"But I acted as the instructors in the USA taught me, and I managed to hit. "As it turned out, two missiles that were flying next to each other were destroyed at the same time.". Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, the chief spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command said that upon returning to the ground, the pilot's comrades met him with "applause and ovations.".
![[The F-16 fighter pilot used four cruise missiles and an aircraft cannon during the mission]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/f-16-supersonic-fighter-aircraft-962195498.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Colonel recounted that day’s events: "A massive air attack by the occupiers, almost 200 enemy drones in the sky, Kinzhals [Dagger hypersonic missiles], ballistics, and 94 air, sea and land-based cruise missiles.”. He said with "100% confirmation" that despite Ukraine's warplanes lacking modern upgrades, the pilot successfully shot down six cruise missiles with the US-made 'Fighting Falcon' in a world first.
