Top Russian pilot blown up in Ukraine after coming out of retirement to fly again

dailystar.co.uk:

Russian pilot has died after he was blasted out of the sky in Ukraine shortly after coming out of retirement to fight. Major General Kanamat Botashev, 63, was flying a Su-25 fighter jet when it was struck by a Stinger missile on the weekend.He was shot above the Luhansk region and was unable to eject shortly before 8.30am on Sunday (May 22).Botashev's death is the highest-ranking pilot killed in Ukraine so far, and one of many commanders to be killed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine.It has been reported that he hasn't flown since 2012 but he "he simply could not stay away" when offered the chance to control the £9million fighter jet, reports Daily Mail.One of his former colleagues confirmed his death to BBC Russian Service, while The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that a Su-25 had been hit in Luhans.The announcement has sparked concerns that the Russian air force doesn't have enough pilots who are capable of carrying out sorties over the besieged country.

It is thought that Botashev is the 10th Russian general to have been killed in Ukraine, while over 40 colonels have died during the battle.

His death hit headlines on multiple pro-war Telegram channels but several posts were deleted by administrators on Monday, May 22.One post described how the plane was first damaged by the missile before it was blasted out of the sky, reports BBC.It read: "Kanamat died today!

Popasnaya district, 8:25... first the plane was hit (by a missile), secondly, bombs - Stinger, at the exit of the attack."There was an explosion in the air and...