Key developments on Aug. 29: * F-16 fighter jet crashes in Ukraine, military confirms * Fighting near Pokrovsk 'exceptionally brutal,' Syrskyi says * Russian troops forced to retreat in Vovchansk after failed assault preparations, Ukraine says * 'Systems are there, what is lacking is final go' — Kuleba urges partners not to delay Patriot
One of the F-16 fighter jets recently delivered to Ukraine crashed while repelling a Russian mass attack, Ukraine's General Staff said on Aug. 29.
Ukraine's Air Force announced on Aug. 29 that a pilot had been killed during Russia's mass attack on Aug. 26, shortly after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that one of the recently delivered F-16 jets had been destroyed in a crash on the same day.
Ukraine's Air Force used F-16 jets as part of its defense against Russia's mass missile and drone attack on Aug. 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed during a press conference on Aug. 27.
On Aug. 24, 2021, Ukraine's military finest paraded through the streets of Kyiv in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's Independence Day. It would be the last time such an event was held, with Russia's full-scale invasion meaning everything on display would be put to the test, with
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell spoke with Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for airpower and technology at RUSI, about the evolving dynamics of airspace in Russia's war against Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent's senior news editor Martin Fornusek spoke with defense and aviation expert Peter Layton about what we learned from this footage – how the F-16s are equipped and what could be the strategies and challenges of operating them.
Key developments on Aug. 6: * Moscow claims clashes with Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region, Kyiv hasn't commented * Ukraine's missile program to get additional funding, Zelensky says * Russian missile attack on Kharkiv kills 1, injures 12, including infant * State Department: The arrival of F-16s has not changed US policy on
After more than a year of waiting, F-16s finally fly in the Ukrainian skies. President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled two of the first U.S.-made fighter jets sporting blue-and-yellow roundels and a Ukrainian coat of arms in a ceremony on Aug. 4, confirming earlier media reports. While providing little details,
The United States will decide on the use of American-made weapons provided to Ukraine, including F-16 fighters, for strikes in Russia depending on the situation on the battlefield and the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the State Department.
‘With Ukraine, as long as it takes,’ we proclaimed. But in Moscow, they heard something else: the West is more terrified of Ukraine winning than losing. To dispel any doubts, the Kremlin unleashed death and destruction on Ukraine’s cities – on the eve of a NATO summit – killing dozens, including
Key developments on Aug. 3-4: * Zelensky confirms F-16s already being used by Ukrainian Air Force * Ukraine's military says it sunk Russian Black Sea Fleet submarine, damaged S-400 missile system in 'successful hit' * Ukraine hit Morozovsk airfield, oil depots in Russia overnight, General Staff confirms * Military: Egyptians recruited by Russia fight
The recent delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine means there will be "more downed missiles and planes used by Russian criminals to attack Ukrainian cities," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Aug. 4.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Aug. 4 that the first batch of F-16s had arrived in Ukraine and that the jets are already being used by Ukrainian pilots.
Key developments on Aug. 1: * Pokrovsk became Russia's main target after Kharkiv push failed, Zelensky says * Russia suffers big losses but has 'minor gains' on eastern front, Syrskyi says * Ukraine received 6 F-16s from Netherlands, The Times reports * Defense Ministry to purchase Ukrainian-made unmanned ground vehicles * Russian shelling kills mother,
The first batch of F-16 fighter jets Ukraine received encompassed six planes provided by the Netherlands, The Times reported on July 31, citing an undisclosed source.
Key developments on July 31: * First F-16 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports * Ukraine downs all 89 Russian drones launched in mass attack * Russia used new 'distracting' drone type during recent attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says * Ukrainian Navy claims attack on Russian weapons depot near Kursk * Azov soldier Oleksandr
The news comes a year after the allied "fighter jet coalition" took shape following Kyiv's repeated appeals for Western aircraft.
The Pentagon has limited stocks and production capacities, but it will supply Ukrainian F-16s with air-to-ground munitions, precision-guidance kits for bombs, and advanced air-to-air missiles in sufficient quantities to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs, a senior U.S. official said.
According to WP, the F-16s will not be brought close to the front line at first, so it is unclear whether they will be able to deter Russian planes flying in from Russian airspace.
Another 12 F-16s will be in the country by the end of the year, Lockheed Martin, the company that manufactures the jets said in a press release.
"And today, we have a positive decision from the Polish government on a specific issue, which will allow Ukraine to receive F-16 jets sooner," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X without elaborating.
Ukraine is yet to receive the first of the pledged F-16 fighter jets, despite waiting for them for year and a half, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the BBC on July 18.
The recent career of the outgoing Dutch Ambassador, Jennes de Mol, has been a good reflection of his country's relations with Ukraine. A career diplomat, De Mol was the Dutch Consul General in Saint Petersburg in 2014, when he came to Kyiv to assist the Dutch embassy in the aftermath
Key developments on July 12: * Russian losses in Ukraine reached 'conflict highs' in past 2 months, UK Defense Ministry says * Permission to strike Russia with UK missiles 'not a done deal,' British officials tell Telegraph * Ukraine's Prosecutor General urges ICC to prosecute Russian attack on Kyiv hospital * 'Depends on
NATO is yet concerned about logistical difficulties in maintaining these aircraft and the lack of suitable runways in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with the latest news that F-16s have reportedly arrived in Ukraine After a long wait, F-16 fighter jets have finally arrived in Ukraine, according to reports. Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said the deadline for the delivery of the first
"But it is possible also to reach targets outside Ukraine (with Danish-supplied F-16s), yes," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen added.
Swedish government did not refuse to send Gripen along with F-16 fighter jets from other allies, but Ukraine said that having two aircraft systems at the same time "was too much," Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom.
Key updates on July 10: * F-16s from Netherlands, Denmark on their way to Ukraine, Blinken announces * NATO allies to announce $43 billion commitment to Ukraine for next year, White House says * New UK PM signals Ukraine can use Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets inside Russia * Hundreds want to join
"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's aggression knows no bounds, so our support must continue at full speed," Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.
The first F-16 fighter jets are on their way from the Netherlands and Denmark to Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on July 10 during the NATO summit in Washington.
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American air superiority fighter that Kyiv has requested from its allies since the start of the full-scale invasion. Denmark and the Netherlands founded the "fighter jet coalition" for Ukraine on July 11, 2023 at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania with nine other countries: Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
These countries pledged to help provide Kyiv with F-16s and train Ukrainian pilots and technical staff to operate the jets. Washington gave its approval in August 2023 to the Netherlands and Denmark to donate their F-16s to Ukraine after training was complete, and agreed to start training Ukrainian pilots in Arizona from October 2023.
Kyiv has been promised 79 F-16s from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium, with the first 20 reportedly scheduled to arrive by the end of 2024. Belgium will supply Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028.
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