Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday that new batches of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets had arrived in Ukraine, rejecting Russian claims that one of the aircraft had been shot down by Putin's military.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Ukraine has a limited number of F-16 fighter jets, and this new delivery will support Zelensky's efforts to defend against Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
What To Know
Russian pro-war Telegram channels claimed that a Russian S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system had downed an F-16. Zelensky dismissed these reports as false.
"The good news is that several F-16 aircraft arrived in Ukraine," Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday evening, though he did not specify how many jets had been delivered.
Earlier, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat also denied the claims of the F-16 being shot down. "F-16 pilots successfully carried out their operations against the Russians again today. This happens every day as combat work continues," he said.
Zelensky had repeatedly called for Western allies to provide his military with advanced fighter jets to aid in the war against Russia. In July, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that NATO allies had begun transferring F-16s to Ukraine.
F-16 jets were seen in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region the following month, according to Pavlo Filipchuk, a Kremlin-installed official. He claimed the jets were flying over the Ukrainian settlement of Kakhovka "only to sow panic."
Ukraine lost its first F-16 in August, when Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii Mes was killed in a crash. A source in Ukraine's air force suggested the jet may have been downed due to friendly fire. Ukraine’s Air Command Zakhid later honored Mes for his bravery, noting that he had destroyed three cruise missiles and one UAV while repelling a Russian attack on August 26.
What People Are Saying
During an online press briefing on Wednesday, Zelensky said, "The Russians are spreading lies that they shot down something there; they didn’t shoot down anything. But the good news is that several additional F-16 aircraft arrived in Ukraine."
What Happens Next
Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. are engaged in ongoing discussions aimed at resolving the conflict.
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