Major Alexander Nikolayovich Borovik, born in 1995, a pilot with the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed while performing a combat mission in a Su-27 fighter jet on the Zaporizhzhia front on the afternoon of 11/9, the Ukrainian Air Force Command said today.

Major Borovik in a photo released on 11/9. Photo: *39th Tactical Aviation Brigade of Ukraine*

The announcement did not mention Borovik's specific mission or the condition of the Su-27. "The cause and circumstances of the incident are under investigation," the Ukrainian Air Force Command said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on the same day that units of the Eastern and Dnepr forces continued to operate on the Zaporizhzhia front, destroying several armored vehicles, military vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and ammunition depots of the opponent. The report did not mention the Ukrainian Su-27 fighter.

The Su-27 is a heavy fighter developed by the Soviet Union for air superiority missions, competing directly with US heavy fighters such as the F-14 and F-15.

Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Graphics: *RYV*

Before the outbreak of hostilities in early 2022, the Ukrainian air force had nearly 40 Su-27s, including the single-seat Su-27S/P version and the two-seat Su-27UB version. This fleet usually performs air defense duty and was later upgraded with the ability to carry US-supplied JDAM guided bombs and AGM-88 anti-radar missiles.

Oryx, a Netherlands-based military analysis website, estimates that Ukraine has lost at least 17 Su-27 fighters in the conflict. The actual number may be higher, as the statistics are based only on published images.

Thanh Danh (*TASS, Ukrainska Pravda, RBC-Ukraine*)