Two Ukrainian Mil Mi-8 helicopters serving with the 18th Aviation Brigade crashed near the contact line at Buckmuth while conducting a combat mission, causing the total destruction of the helicopters and the death of six Ukrainian pilots selected to train on F-16s.

The six Ukrainian servicemen were killed while “carrying out missions” in a Russian-held sector of the country near the eastern city of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian military said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday.

This is the second fatal accident for the Ukrainians as last Friday, 2 L-39 Albatros training aircraft crashed in Zhytomyr, causing the death of 3 pilots who had been selected to train in F-16s.

In short, the Ukrainians lost nine pilots in a few days, who were selected to be trained in F-16s.

The Ukrainians are expected to take delivery of a number of F-16s of around 30 fighters by the end of the year, which would mean training around 60 pilots.

No clarification has been given as to the circumstances surrounding these accidents.

Kiev has ordered a full investigation into the commission of criminal acts.

⚡️ Media: 6 Ukrainian pilots killed in crashed helicopters in Donetsk Oblast.

Six Ukrainian pilots died when two helicopters crashed in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 29 under unknown circumstances, Ukrainska Pravda (UP) reported on Aug. 30.

? Alex Babenko/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/vyRbZGITW1

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 30, 2023

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