Zelensky confirms arrival of F-16 jets in Ukraine, hails 'new phase'
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Zelensky posted on social media that Ukraine was now entering a "new phase of development" for the Air Force after the delivery.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky answers media questions standing against the background of Ukraine's Air Force's F-16 fighter jets in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Sunday the arrival of F-16 fighter planes in Ukraine, describing it as a "new phase of development" for the Ukrainian air force and expressing gratitude to allies for the delivery.
Zelensky posted on social media: "We are now in a new phase of development for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We have done a lot to transition the Ukrainian Air Force to a new aviation standard – Western combat aviation ... F-16s in Ukraine. We ensured this."
The post on X includes a video of two F-16s flying, as well as two more fighter planes with Ukrainian insignia, and Zelensky is shown handing prizes to military members.
We are now in a new phase of development for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We have done a lot to transition the Ukrainian Air Force to a new aviation standard – Western combat aviation. From the beginning of this war, we have been talking with our partners about… pic.twitter.com/z21yTU0Hjo
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 4, 2024
The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that the F-16 fighter jets recently delivered to Ukraine have begun their initial flights in an "air defense" role.
The newspaper also noted that Ukrainian officials confirmed the jets have started their first combat missions.
Bloomberg reported moments ago, citing sources familiar with the situation, that the initial batch of NATO-supplied F-16s had arrived in Ukraine, although the exact number of aircraft was not specified, only described as a small quantity.
Since the start of the war in February 2022, Kiev has urgently requested F-16 fighter jets. Since then, multiple NATO members have committed to sending the US-made jets known for their precision and speed, and Ukrainian pilots have been training in NATO countries for their deployment.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday that the recent delivery of Western F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will not significantly impact the battlefield, and Kiev should be aware of this.
"These planes will appear, their number will gradually decrease, they will be shot down and destroyed," Peskov said, adding that the jets "will not be able to significantly influence the dynamics of events at the front."
The decision by Washington and its allies to provide Ukraine with Western-made heavy armor in early 2023, such as US-made Abrams tanks and German-made Leopard tanks, prompted Russian businesses and officials to offer rewards for capturing or destroying this equipment on the frontline.
FORES, a private company, announced on July 17 that there is a substantial reward for the first Russian soldier to destroy a US-made F-16 fighter jet. The company has previously offered bounties for Western equipment destroyed by the Russian military.
“There will be a reward for destroying the F-15 and F-16 fighter jets,” FORES' deputy CEO, Ilya Potanin, said in a video published by the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
