CaliToday (10/12/2025): The Ukrainian Air Force bids farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Yevheniy Ivanov, a legendary aviator whose career spanned 30 years and who kept the skies safe through hundreds of grueling missions.
KYIV (December 10, 2025) — In a somber announcement that highlights the steep human cost of the ongoing air war, the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed today the death of one of their most experienced fighter pilots.
Lieutenant Colonel Yevheniy Vitaliovych Ivanov, a veteran officer of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, did not return from his final combat mission in the war-torn skies of Eastern Ukraine.
A Career of Defense
The 39th Brigade described Lt. Col. Ivanov as a "true ace" and a pillar of the Ukrainian Air Force. At 48 years old, Ivanov was not a fresh recruit; he was a career aviator who first enlisted in the military in 1995, long before the current full-scale invasion began.
His service record reads like a history of modern aerial warfare. piloting the heavy, twin-engine Su-27 Flanker, Ivanov became a legend within his unit.
200 Missions into Hell
Flying a fourth-generation fighter against superior Russian numbers and advanced air defense systems requires nerves of steel. According to the official statement, Lt. Col. Ivanov executed more than 200 combat sorties during the full-scale war.
The brigade detailed his operational impact:
Air-to-Air: He was credited with intercepting and destroying multiple enemy airborne targets, protecting Ukrainian cities from cruise missiles and drones.
Ground Attack: He conducted high-risk strikes on Russian ground forces, "eliminating hundreds of invaders" and disrupting enemy logistics.
Tactical Mastery: He participated in "dozens of difficult air operations," likely including the desperate defense of skies over the Donbas.
"He destroyed the invaders on many fronts... and participated in dozens of difficult air campaigns," the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade wrote in their tribute.
The Last Flight
Details regarding the specific circumstances of his death remain classified for operational security, but it was confirmed that he fell in the Eastern sector currently the hottest zone of the conflict where Russian forces are pushing hard toward Pokrovsk.
The loss of such an experienced airframe commander is a significant blow to Kyiv. While Ukraine waits for more Western F-16s and Mirages, it is veteran pilots like Ivanov, squeezing every ounce of performance out of aging Soviet-era jets, who have held the line against the Russian Aerospace Forces.
"Heroes Never Die"
Tributes have poured in from fellow soldiers and aviation enthusiasts. Lt. Col. Ivanov is being hailed not just for his skill, but for the mentorship he likely provided to the younger generation of pilots now taking to the skies.
His unit honored him with the solemn promise of the aviator: "Flight eternal, Brother. Heroes do not die; they simply fly higher."
Source: 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade / Armed Forces of Ukraine