Kiev announces additional F-16 are received
Date
12/11/2024 7:25:10 AM
(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced that Ukraine has received a second batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, strengthening the country's air defenses against Russian airstrikes. The announcement was made on Saturday morning, though Zelensky did not specify the exact number of jets received or whether they had been deployed in combat. However, he confirmed that the first batch of F-16s, also supplied by Denmark, has already been used to intercept Russian missiles.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for her continued support, adding that Ukraine’s air shield had been significantly enhanced. The US had authorized its NATO allies to provide F-16s to Ukraine in the summer of 2023, with several Western nations also training Ukrainian pilots. Media reports indicate that Ukraine is set to receive approximately 80 F-16s, with Denmark contributing a total of 19 aircraft.
The first batch of F-16s arrived in Ukraine in August 2023, provided by Denmark and the Netherlands. However, that same month, Ukraine lost one of the jets and a veteran pilot in a crash, the cause of which remains unclear. One theory suggests that the crash may have been caused by friendly fire from a US-made Patriot missile, leading to the dismissal of Ukraine's Air Force commander.
While Western media have downplayed the F-16s' potential to change the battlefield dynamics, arguing that they may not offer a decisive advantage over Russian aircraft, Moscow has condemned the deliveries. Russia warns that such shipments will only prolong the conflict without altering the eventual outcome and sees the F-16 transfers as an escalation of hostilities.
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