The Ukrainian Air Force Command announced on 9/3 that Colonel Oleksandr Dovgach, commander of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, died during a combat mission on the eastern front. The incident occurred amidst overwhelming Russian air superiority and dense enemy air defense systems, with specific circumstances currently under investigation, the agency stated.

Ukrainian officials described Dovgach's death as a profound loss for the air force and the nation. An experienced combat pilot, Dovgach had participated in hundreds of missions across critical areas, including Kiev, Kharkov, Kherson, and Snake Island, earning him the title of Hero of Ukraine. The Air Force Command lauded him for consistently leading the charge, undertaking the most dangerous assignments, and inspiring his subordinates through his bold and decisive actions.

Colonel Oleksandr Dovgach. Photo: Ukrainian Air Force Command

AMK Mapping, an X account tracking open-source intelligence on the conflict, suggested that Colonel Dovgach's Su-27 fighter jet was "hit by a long-range R-77M air-to-air missile launched from a Russian Su-35S fighter." The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on this information.

The 39th Brigade, based at Ozerne in Zhytomyr province, operates Su-27 heavy fighters, L-39 jet trainers, and some French-donated Mirage 2000 light fighters. Ukrainian pilots frequently encounter Russian interception fire. An F-16 pilot revealed last month that they face constant threats from MiG-31, Su-35S, and Su-57 stealth fighters, which "patrol at high altitudes, waiting for us to appear to launch strikes."

The R-77M, also known as Izdeliye 180, is Russia's most advanced R-77 air-to-air missile. Developed for the Su-57 stealth fighter, it boasts a range of approximately 195 km. This missile is a key air-to-air weapon for the Russian Su-35S fighter, alongside the heavy R-37M missile, which has a range of 300-400 km.

Before the conflict, the Ukrainian Air Force operated nearly 40 Su-27 aircraft, including single-seat Su-27S/P and two-seat Su-27UB variants, all inherited from the Soviet Union. This fleet initially performed air defense duties and was later upgraded with US-supplied JDAM guided bombs and AGM-88 anti-radar missiles. Oryx, a Netherlands-based conflict analysis site, estimates that Ukraine has lost at least 19 Su-27 fighters during the conflict, noting the actual figure could be higher as their statistics are based solely on publicly available images.

Thanh Danh (According to Kyiv Post, Ukrainska Pravda)