KIEV.- Ukraine Russia has received its first F-16 fighter-bombers after more than two years of waiting, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday, adding that his country will need more of the US-made aircraft to confront the Russian invasion.
“We used to hear the word +impossible+. Now it is a reality, the reality in our sky: the F-16s are in Ukraine”Zelensky said as some of the planes flew overhead, without revealing the number of aircraft received or their specific tasks.
These aircraft are considered one of the most valuable items on the extensive list of military equipment that kyiv had requested from its Western allies.
Zelensky made the announcement in front of what appeared to be two gray F-16s, partially covered with the Ukrainian trident, at a location that journalists were asked not to reveal for security reasons.
“I am proud of all our young men who are learning to fly these planes and have already started using them for our country,” he added.
This announcement, which many will surely welcome, comes as kyiv’s forces have been struggling to contain the advance of Russian troops in recent weeks.
Ukraine hopes that the arrival of these fighters, which are known for their precision, speed and range, will allow for greater protection from Russian bombings.
“Is not sufficient”
However, Zelensky immediately warned that more aircraft would be needed: “Our partners know that the number of F-16s we have in Ukraine, the number of pilots who have already been trained, is not enough,” he said.
“The good news is that we are expecting additional F-16s”he added.
Several NATO countries have pledged to supply a varying number of the fighters and have been training Ukrainian pilots and personnel for months.
“Our guys are training hard,” Zelensky said, thanking Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States and other allies.
In recent months, as Russia’s air campaign has raged, the president has put the need to improve air defenses high on his agenda, saying in an interview with AFP in May that Ukraine needs about 130 F-16s to ensure parity with Russian air power.
However, kyiv’s partners have promised to send fewer than 100 F-16s so far, with most likely to arrive over the course of several years, after considerable pilot training.
The recent attacks on Ukrainian airfields also called into question kyiv’s ability to protect these multi-billion dollar aircraft from Russian attacks.
In early July, Russia claimed to have destroyed five fighter planes during a bombing raid on an air base in central Ukraine.
Following the bombing, Ukrainian military correspondents lashed out at the air force’s top brass, claiming that the planes were parked in the open without sufficient protection.
Russia warned last week that any F-16s delivered to Ukraine would be shot down, saying they would have little impact on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s air force has long relied on a fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 and Sukhoi aircraft, which came under increasing strain after more than two years of demanding combat missions.
The situation remains tense on the eastern front, with authorities announcing mandatory evacuations of children from several towns and cities.
Source: AFP