Ukrainian Top Gun F-16 pilot completes ‘world-first’ shooting down SIX Putin cruise missiles  during huge Russian attack

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 13 December.

East2West

A Ukrainian F-16 pilot downed six cruise missiles in one mission, the Ukrainian Air Force has said[/caption]

East2West

Yuriy Ignat, colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, praised the pilot’s success in what is a world-first[/caption]

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The F-16 fighter pilot used four cruise missiles and an aircraft cannon during the mission[/caption]

The pilot admitted that the likelihood of hitting a missile travelling at over 650 km/h (more than 400 mph) was slim.

“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.

“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,” he added.

The Colonel said that upon returning to the ground, the unnamed pilot’s comrades met him with “applause and ovations.”

Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, the chief spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, commented on 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.

The sharpshooter struck down four cruise missiles with direct hits and then used the aircraft’s cannon to protect Ukraine from further missile threats.

Russia‘s assault is considered one of the most intense attacks by Putin during the conflict.

“Based on the results of objective control…for the first time in history, an American F-16 fighter has shot down six cruise missiles in an anti-aircraft battle, two of them using an aircraft canon,” the Colonel said.

“And it is done by a Ukrainian…Young Ukrainian pilots prove every day that they are the best, whether in the cockpit of a Soviet or American fighter.

“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.”

According to reports, US officials are “pleasantly surprised” by the news.

This achievement follows the actions of a Ukrainian Top Gun pilot who successfully destroyed one of Putin’s bridges in Kursk with US-made missiles.

Major Vadym Voroshylov, 30, led the mission, during which Ukraine dropped GBU-62 JDAM-ER glide bombs on the bridge in Kursk.

The bombs developed by Boeing and Australia‘s Defence Science and Technology Organisation were dropped from a Soviet-era MiG-29 supersonic fighter.

The Major, whose call sign is Karaya, is a highly decorated hero of the conflict against Russia after also destroying drones and missiles in air combat.

Meanwhile, the family of a Brit who was killed while serving on the front line for Ukraine has spoken out about their pride.

Jordan Maclachlan volunteered to join Ukrainian forces as a medic after Russia’s invasion in 2022.

The 26-year-old from Ardnamurchan in the Highlands was killed on Friday as his family paid tribute to their “fun-loving” son, brother and grandson saying they are “so proud of him helping others.”