Ukraine is losing jets to its own missiles.

Soviet-era R-60s from the 1960s are exploding on launch, says Come Back Alive chief Taras Chmut.

Chmut said Ukraine lacks modern short-range air-to-air missiles like the AIM-9 Sidewinder, forcing pilots to use Cold War–era R-60s and R-73s against Russian drones and cruise missiles.

"It's an old Soviet missile from the 60s that can explode at the moment of launch. And there have been such cases — we have lost several planes because of this."

A confirmed case: a MiG-29 crashed near Odesa on 10 August 2026 after catching fire during missile launch on an anti-drone mission — the pilot ejected injured but alive.

Chmut said there is "currently no alternative."