Ukrainian pilots have began flying F-16s, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has mentioned, confirming the long-awaited arrival of the US-made fighter jets greater than 29 months since Russia’s invasion.
The Ukrainian chief introduced the usage of F-16s, which Kyiv has lengthy lobbied for, as he met army pilots at an airbase flanked by two of the jets, with two extra flying overhead.
“F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it. I’m happy with our guys who’re mastering these jets and have already began utilizing them for our nation,” Zelenskiy mentioned at a location that authorities requested reporters to not disclose for safety causes.
The arrival of the jets is a milestone for Ukraine after many months of ready, although it stays unclear what number of can be found and the way a lot of an affect they’ll have in enhancing air defences and on the battlefield.
Russia has been concentrating on bases that will home them and has vowed to shoot them down.
The F-16s had been on Ukraine’s wishlist for a very long time. They’re geared up with a 20mm cannon and might carry bombs, rockets and missiles.
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac of an airfield, Zelenskiy mentioned Ukraine nonetheless didn’t have sufficient pilots skilled to make use of the F-16s or sufficient of the jets themselves.
“The constructive factor is that we expect further F-16s … many guys at the moment are coaching,” he mentioned.
Ukraine has beforehand relied on an ageing fleet of Soviet-era warplanes which might be outgunned by Russia’s extra superior and much larger fleet.
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Russia has used that edge to conduct common long-range missile strikes on targets throughout Ukraine and to pound Ukrainian frontline positions with 1000’s of guided bombs, supporting its forces which might be slowly advancing within the east.
“That is the brand new stage of improvement of the air power of Ukraine’s armed forces,” Zelenskiy mentioned.
“We did so much for Ukrainian forces to transition to a brand new aviation commonplace, the western fight aviation,” he added, citing a whole bunch of conferences and unrelenting diplomacy to acquire the F-16s.
It stays unclear what missiles the jets are geared up with. An extended vary of missile would permit them to have a better battlefield affect, army analysts say.
Zelenskiy mentioned he additionally hoped to foyer allied neighbouring international locations to assist intercept Russian missiles being launched at Ukraine by means of conversations on the Nato-Ukraine Council platform.
“That is one other device, and I wish to strive it, in order that Nato international locations can speak to Ukraine about the opportunity of a small coalition of neighbouring international locations capturing down enemy missiles,” he mentioned.
“I believe this resolution might be tough for our companions, they’re all the time afraid of extreme escalation however we’re combating that.”
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