Captain Marat Redvanovich Mambetov, flight commander of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade "Ghost of Kyiv," died when his MiG-29 was struck by a Russian missile during a combat mission; he ejected but did not survive.
Ukrainian Air Force Captain Marat Redvanovich Mambetov was killed while executing a combat mission in a MiG-29 fighter jet, the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade "Ghost of Kyiv" confirmed. Mambetov held the position of flight commander within the brigade, which has operated under the "Ghost of Kyiv" call sign since the early days of the full-scale invasion.
The brigade reported that Mambetov's aircraft was struck by a Russian missile during the sortie. The pilot successfully initiated ejection but did not survive the incident. In a statement, the unit emphasized that Mambetov defended Ukrainian airspace until his final moment.
The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade remains one of Ukraine's primary MiG-29 operators, tasked with air superiority and interception missions across the theater. Losses among its experienced pilot corps have been keenly felt as the force sustains high-tempo operations against a numerically superior adversary.
Ukrainian military channels honored the fallen captain with the traditional invocation of eternal glory and memory. The announcement was disseminated by the "Guys from Donbas" Telegram channel, a widely followed military-affiliated source that regularly reports on frontline developments and personnel losses.
https://t.me/pacany_donbas/5910