Ukraine's F-16 Loss: Journalists Named New Probable Cause.

The Ukrainian F-16 aircraft, piloted by Oleksii Mese, possibly crashed due to being hit by fragments of a downed Russian missile, reports Breaking Defense citing sources in Ukraine.

According to journalists, last night Ukrainian pilot Oleksii Mese was shooting down Russian missiles and drones along with other F-16s, Patriot systems, and other ground-based air defense batteries.

According to the publication, one of the possible scenarios being discussed by Ukrainian defense experts is that the F-16 accidentally flew through a cloud of debris after successfully destroying one of the Russian missiles.

The debris damaged the engine and other parts of the aircraft, causing it to break apart. Pilot Mese likely died before he could eject. According to a source speaking to Breaking Defense, this is already the fourth instance where Ukraine has lost fighter jets - two MiG-29s and two Su.

Earlier such losses did not attract attention because they were not modern and expensive F-16 fighters.

The Wall Street Journal reported that one of the F-16 fighters recently received by Ukraine from allies had crashed. Later, the General Staff confirmed the loss of the F-16 fighter.

They also reported the death of pilot Oleksii Mese. He died on August 26 during a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine. At that Time, the pilot shot down three enemy missiles and a drone. It was not known which aircraft Mese was flying, but the press service of the 144th Fighter Wing of the US National Guard Air Force reported that Mese was training on the F-16 in the US.

The Economist reported that the first 10 of 79 possible F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine on the last day of July.

The Pentagon is not assisting Ukraine in investigating the loss of the first F-16 fighter.

The US is reconfiguring the electronic warfare complex on the F-16 fighters being transferred to Ukraine by Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.