International
Ukraine F-16 Destroyed in Russian Strike
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, recently supplied by NATO allies, has been destroyed amid a Russian missile barrage, according to a Ukrainian military source.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the death of the pilot, Oleksiy Mes. This marks the first time Ukraine has lost one of the F-16s that were delivered earlier this month.
The Ukrainian military claims the crash was not caused directly by an enemy missile. Despite this, the pilot had successfully taken down three cruise missiles and one drone during what has been described as Russia’s largest aerial attack to date.
“Oleksiy saved Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles,” the Ukrainian Air Force stated on social media, lamenting that it came at the cost of his life.
Although the type of aircraft wasn’t officially mentioned in the statement, a military source confirmed that it was indeed an F-16.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S.-made F-16s were being used to intercept Russian drones and missiles.
Zelensky also called on allies to grant Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory.
Dutch Chief of Defence Gen Onno Eichelsheim announced that the Netherlands would provide Ukraine with 24 more of the jets, in addition to other weapons, and assured there would be no restrictions on their use, as long as they comply with humanitarian law. This could enable Kyiv to launch more extended strikes into Russian territory.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media in front of an F-16
Since U.S. President Joe Biden authorized European allies to send F-16s to Ukraine in August 2023, about 65 jets have been pledged by NATO countries.
These F-16s work alongside Western-supplied surface-to-air missile systems, such as Patriot and NASAMS, which are already deployed in Ukraine. The jets also play a crucial role in defending against Russian glide bombs, which are equipped with precision strike capabilities.
The loss of the F-16 is a setback for Zelensky, who has stated that he will present a “victory plan” to President Biden next month. Zelensky also disclosed that Ukraine recently conducted a successful test of a domestically-produced ballistic missile but provided no further details.
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