Ukraine receives first batch of F-16 jets

Zelensky shared the news on social media, posting images of the jets at an undisclosed location in Ukraine.

"I am proud of all our guys who master these planes and have already started using them for our state," Zelensky wrote.

The announcement coincided with Ukrainian Air Force Day, which is celebrated annually on August 4. Zelensky delivered a speech and presented state awards on this occasion. He highlighted the extensive efforts made by Ukraine to strengthen its air force since Russia's full-scale invasion began.

"While we often heard the word 'impossible' in response to our requests from partners, we have made possible what was our ambition," Zelensky stated. "Now it is indeed a reality, a reality in our sky. F-16s in Ukraine."

Zelensky expressed gratitude to the countries that provided the jets, including Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. He acknowledged the role of the Danish-Dutch-led "fighter jet coalition," established at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023, in facilitating the delivery.

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, an American air superiority fighter, has been sought by Kyiv since the invasion began. Ukraine has been promised at least 79 F-16s from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium.

According to reports, the first batch included six jets from the Netherlands, with a total of 10 F-17 jets received by the end of July.

The arrival of F-16s is seen as a significant step towards building a NATO-standard air force in Ukraine. While some defense experts caution that the jets may not be game-changers in the war, they are expected to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities and protect population centers from Russia's bombardments.

Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa noted that the F-16s would challenge Russia's "full dominance" of the skies over the Black Sea.

Denmark and the Netherlands have indicated that they would permit Ukraine to use the F-16s for strikes inside Russia, though Denmark specified that such actions would depend on the circumstances. Belgium stated that its F-16s are intended for use only on Ukrainian territory. (ILKHA)