Moscow, January 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: Danish instructor Jepp Hansen, who was reportedly training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, has allegedly been killed in a Russian missile strike in Ukraine, according to TASS. The incident reportedly occurred at a training center in the city of Krivoy Rog, located in the Dnepropetrovsk Region of central Ukraine.
Russian law enforcement sources allegedly informed TASS that Hansen was killed during an attack targeting the training facility. Prior reports from the Russian newspaper Gazeta claimed that Russian forces utilized an Iskander missile to strike a closed university building in the city, which had been repurposed by the Ukrainian military as barracks. Reports indicate that the upper part of the four-story building was nearly destroyed, with heavy damage sustained by the building’s facade.
According to Russian media, citing a social media post by one of Hansen’s friends, the Danish instructor had extensive experience flying F-16 fighter jets and had trained “hundreds of Ukrainians” in their operation.
As of now, neither the Danish government nor the Russian Defense Ministry has officially commented on the reports.
Last year, the Netherlands and Denmark delivered 20 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with additional deliveries planned throughout 2025. Norway, Belgium, and Greece have also committed to supplying Ukraine with these aircraft.
Moscow has consistently criticized Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, stating that they prolong the conflict without altering its outcome. Russia has also described the transfer of F-16 fighter jets as a significant escalation of hostilities.