Ukraine’s F-16s scored their first victory against Russia after the US-made jets were deployed to shoot down Russia’s latest missile and drone barrage, officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the jets, which arrived earlier this month, were key to mitigating the damage from Monday’s massive attack, which saw more than 200 missiles and drones fired from Russia, the Kyiv Independent reports.
“[The F-16s had] a very good result,” Zelensky told reporters at a press conference Tuesday.
“We thank our partners for providing us with the F-16s.
The Ukrainian air force said the jets and Kyiv’s aerial defense system were able to shoot down 102 missiles and 99 drones on Monday, but the claims could not be independently verified.
Zelensky and military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi have said that once more F-16 jets and pilots are acquired, Kyiv will be able to successfully defend itself against Russia’s aerial assaults.
The F-16s’ first mission bodes well for their defensive capabilities despite concerns that the Ukrainian pilots may have not been well-equipped to handle the powerful jets.
Other NATO nations, including the US, have volunteered to let additional Ukrainian pilots train using F-16s in their country, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ukrainian officials have also suggested using the jets to attack Russia directly as Zelensky called on the US and its Western allies to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons against Moscow.
Despite the blows the nation suffered Monday, there is little evidence that the West will lift the restrictions on the weapons it provides Ukraine.
Following the deployment of the US-made aircraft to intercept Russia’s most recent missile and drone barrage, officials said that Ukraine’s F-16s achieved their first victory over Russia.
According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the jets, which arrived earlier this month, were essential in reducing the damage caused by Monday’s massive attack, which saw more than 200 missiles and drones fired from Russia.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Zelensky informed reporters, “[The F-16s had] a very good result.”. “We appreciate our partners lending us the F-16s.
He went on, “Obviously, this is insufficient.”. Their numbers are limited, and pilot training is still required. “.
After the Biden-Harris administration gave the go-ahead, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway promised to supply Ukraine with over 80 F-16s; the first shipment of aircraft and qualified pilots arrived roughly three weeks prior to Monday’s attacks.
There was no independent way to confirm the claims made by the Ukrainian air force on Monday that the aircraft and Kyiv’s aerial defense system shot down 99 drones and 102 missiles.
At least four persons were reportedly killed in the attack, which affected half of Ukraine, according to officials. The Russian attack also damaged significant power plants and resulted in blackouts throughout the nation.
The energy infrastructure and airfields in Kyiv are the purported targets of the attack, according to the Kremlin; however, the F-16s are safeguarded by recently installed rocket-intercepting systems.
Zelensky and military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi have stated that Kyiv will be able to effectively repel Russian aerial attacks after they obtain additional F-16 aircraft and pilots.
Despite worries that the Ukrainian pilots might not have been properly prepared to handle the formidable jets, the F-16s’ first mission speaks well for their defensive capabilities.
Instead of the four years that a pilot in Denmark would normally spend in training, the pilots only received a year’s worth of instruction at the European F-16 Training Center in the Netherlands.
The Wall Street Journal claims that other NATO members, such as the US, have offered to allow more Ukrainian pilots to train there using F-16s.
Zelensky called on the US and its Western allies to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons against Moscow, and Ukrainian officials also suggested using the jets to attack Russia directly.
There’s no indication that the West will ease the restrictions on the weapons it supplies to Ukraine, even in light of the blows the country took on Monday.
