The Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed the death of Lieutenant Colonel Yevhen (Yevgeny) Ivanov, a Su-27 fighter pilot from the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade (39th TAB), during a combat mission in the east of the country.
According to the official statement, the accident occurred at noon on December 8, when the aircraft crashed under circumstances that remain unknown. Ivanov served as the brigade’s senior navigator, playing an essential role in the unit’s air operations.
Ukrainian military authorities reported that an investigation is already underway to clarify the causes of the fighter’s crash and the pilot’s death.
Strategic Role of the 39th Brigade
The 39th TAB has been widely employed in high-risk operations, including anti-radar missile strikes against Russian air-defense systems and missions involving the launch of high-precision guided bombs such as JDAM, AASM and GBU-39.
+ Footage of the launch of the French AASM-250 guided missile from a Su-27S of the 39th Aviation Regiment’s arsenal.
In addition, the brigade’s aircraft support air-defense operations during missile and drone attacks and provide cover for other Ukrainian aerial platforms.
Second Fatal Incident in 2025
The death of Lieutenant Colonel Ivanov is the second loss recorded by the 39th TAB in 2025.
In September, pilot Oleksandr Borovyk died while conducting a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia. In April, another Su-27 from the unit crashed during defense against an enemy UAV airstrike, but the pilot successfully ejected.
Ivanov’s passing represents yet another blow to Ukrainian tactical aviation, which continues to operate under intense wartime conditions and constant threats from enemy air-defense systems.
Source and images: militarnyi | Telegram @UkrAirForce | Telegram @kpszsu. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
