Ukrainian F-16 Fighter Jet Downed Amid Russian Missile Barrage
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, recently supplied by NATO allies, has been destroyed amid a Russian missile attack, according to a Ukrainian military source speaking to the BBC. The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mes. This marks the first loss of an F-16 since Ukraine received these aircraft earlier this month.
The Ukrainian military stated that the downing of the aircraft was not a direct result of a Russian missile strike. The pilot, however, managed to intercept and destroy three Russian cruise missiles and a drone during the largest aerial assault by Russia to date, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
“Oleksiy saved many Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles,” the Ukrainian Air Force posted on social media, acknowledging the pilot’s sacrifice. “Unfortunately, it came at the cost of his own life.” While the type of aircraft involved was not officially specified in the statement, a source confirmed it was an F-16.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Tuesday that the newly arrived F-16s from the United States were actively being used to counter Russian drone and missile threats. He also appealed to Ukraine’s allies for the authorization to use long-range missiles to target deeper locations inside Russia.
Dutch Chief of Defence, General Onno Eichelsheim, announced that the Netherlands would supply Ukraine with 24 F-16 jets, in addition to other weaponry. Speaking at a conference in Washington, he stated there would be no restrictions on their use, apart from adhering to humanitarian law, which could permit Ukraine to conduct more extensive strikes into Russian territory.
Since August 2023, when U.S. President Joe Biden gave the green light for European allies to send F-16s to Ukraine, approximately 65 jets have been pledged by NATO countries. These F-16s are being utilized alongside a limited number of Western-provided surface-to-air missile systems, such as Patriot and NASAMS, to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities against various Russian aerial threats, including glide bombs equipped with precision strike capabilities similar to the JDAM munitions used by the U.S.
The loss of the F-16 is a setback for President Zelensky, who is preparing to present a “victory plan” to President Biden next month. Zelensky also disclosed that Ukraine recently completed a successful test of a domestically-produced ballistic missile, but withheld further details about the test.
