A Ukrainian defender was killed on October 1, 2026, while conducting missile and bomb strikes against Russian forces on a front line. His MiG-29 fighter jet was reportedly hit by an enemy missile during a combat mission, and although the pilot ejected, he did not survive.

Captain Marat Redvanovich Mambetov, commander of a flight in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade 'Ghost of Kyiv', was identified as the pilot who perished. The post also mentioned his affiliation with WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.