The first F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine, media reported earlier in the week. Promised to the Kiev regime a year ago, it took far longer than predicted to train Ukrainian pilots on the jets, with media speculating about what the F-16s will be used for, citing air defense as an option.
Deliveries of aging F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will play into Russia's hands and improve its image, The Independent has speculated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin "would savor the image that destroying F-16s from NATO countries would bring," the UK media outlet noted. Russia’s Armed Forces will likely "destroy the F-16s on the ground with long-range missiles," the publication further predicted.
It went on to underscore that Russia’s Su-35 fighter jet would be "one of the biggest threats" to the F-16s, and noted that sophisticated air surveillance radars would be used against them. Russia’s air defense systems would make it too risky for Ukraine to try to use the jets to support its troop movements on the front line, analysts cited by the outlet acknowledged.
The fact that Kiev’s pilots only got a nine-month training “crash course” on using the F-16s as compared to the typical three-year course Western pilots receive was also noted.
Ukraine recently received a handful of F-16s from the Netherlands. Denmark, Belgium, and Norway have promised to provide the Kiev regime with more over the next few months.
Ukraine receives 10 F-16 fighters — The Economist
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the United States and its NATO allies that Moscow sees the presence of nuclear-capable F-16s in Ukraine as a nuclear threat.
President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Western-supplied F-16 jets to Ukraine would not have the power to alter the situation on the battlefield. He warned that if these fighter jets are deployed from the territory of third countries, they will be considered legitimate targets for Russian forces. Every previous alleged game-changing weapon has failed to turn the tide of the West's proxy conflict in Ukraine, as Russia has had effective countermeasures ready and waiting for each of them.
Ukraine has already received 10 F-16 fighters from Western countries, and by the end of the year their number will increase to 20, The Economist reported.
"By the end of 2024, Ukraine should be flying 20 of the American-made fighter jets. The rest, promised by the so-called F-16 coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands, will arrive in batches during 2025," the newspaper said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that the supply of new weapons to Kiev, including the F-16, would not change the situation at the front, but would prolong the conflict.
Russia’s East battlegroup defeats four Ukrainian brigades
Units of Russia’s East battlegroup defeated four Ukrainian brigades, the enemy lost up to 95 servicemen and two ammunition depots, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"Units of Russia’s East battlegroup occupied more advantageous positions, defeated the servicemen and equipment of the 78th mechanized, 58th motorized infantry, 1st tank brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the 128th territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Vodyanoye, Zolotaya Niva, and Storozhevoe in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 95 servicemen, one tank, three vehicles, two Polish-made 155mm Krab self-propelled artillery pieces, one UK-made 155mm FH-70 howitzer, one 100mm Rapira anti-tank gun and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.
Russia’s air defense systems shot down Ukrainian Su-27
Russia’s air defense systems downed a Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"Air defense systems have downed a Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force," the ministry said.
At the same time, Russian air defense systems destroyed 162 drones, including 82 drones outside the special military operation zone, over the past day.
"Thirteen missiles of the US HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, one Vampire missile, and 162 unmanned aerial vehicles, including 82 outside the special military operation zone, were shot down," the ministry said.
Russia’s Dnepr battlegroup destroys three Ukrainian ammunition depots
Units of Russia’s Dnepr battlegroup destroyed three ammunition depots and up to 75 servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 75 servicemen, seven vehicles, a 152-mm D-20 gun, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and an Anklav-N electronic warfare station. Three ammunition depots were destroyed," the report said.
According to the Ministry, units of the Dnepr battlegroup inflicted losses on formations of the 103rd and 108th territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Belogorie in the Zaporozhye region and Kazatskoe in the Kherson region.
Russian air defense systems destroy over 160 UAVs
Russian air defense systems destroyed 162 drones, including 82 drones outside the special military operation zone, over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"Thirteen missiles of the US HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, one Vampire missile, and 162 unmanned aerial vehicles, including 82 outside the special military operation zone, were shot down," the ministry said.
Russia’s Center group liberates Novoselovka Pervaya settlement in DPR
Russia’s Center battlegroup liberated the settlement of Novoselovka Pervaya in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Units of the Center battlegroup have liberated the settlement of Novoselovka Pervaya in the Donetsk People's Republic. Formations of the 31st, 32nd mechanized, 1st tank, 95th airborne assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 109th territorial defense brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Vozdvizhenka, Toretsk, Nikolaevka, Druzhba and Rozovka in the Donetsk People's Republic. A counterattack by the Liut assault brigade of the National Police of Ukraine was also repelled," the ministry said.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the enemy's losses in the past 24 hours amounted to 365 servicemen, a tank, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 11 vehicles, a 152 mm D-20 gun, three 122 mm D-30 howitzers, a 105 mm M119 gun, a 100 mm Rapira anti-tank gun, a Zoopark counter-battery system, and an Anklav-N electronic warfare station. A missile and artillery weapons depot was also destroyed.
Russia’s North battlegroup defeats four Ukrainian brigades in Kharkov region
Russia’s North battlegroup defeated four enemy brigades in one day and repulsed two counterattacks - the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to 190 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"Units of Russia’s North battlegroup defeated the personnel and equipment of the 42nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the 36th marine brigade, the 106th and 129th territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa, Vovchansk in the Kharkov region, Miropolye and Basovka in the Sumy region. Two counter-attacks of the enemy assault groups were repelled. The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to 190 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, and six pickup trucks," the Ministry said.
Ukraine’s losses in Russia’s West group zone reach 490 servicemen and three tanks
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the zone of Russia’s West battlegroup over the past day amounted to 490 servicemen and three tanks, including two German Leopard tanks, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The units of Russia’s West battlegroup have taken up more advantageous positions. The formations of the 107th, 112th, 114th and 116th territorial defense brigades were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Tabayevka, Glushkovka in the Kharkov region, as well as Makeyevka in the Lugansk People's Republic. The counter-attack of the assault group of the 54th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was repelled. The enemy lost up to 490 servicemen, three tanks, including two German Leopard tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, two US M113 armored personnel carriers, and eight vehicles," the ministry said.
The ministry added that two US-made M777 155-mm howitzers, two US-made M198 155-mm howitzers, one 152-mm D-20 gun, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one UK-made 105-mm L-119 gun, and two Nota and Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations were destroyed in the counterattack. Two ammunition depots were also destroyed.
Ukraine lost up to 690 servicemen in Russia’s South group zone
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 690 servicemen over the past day as a result of the actions of Russia’s South battlegroup, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The units of Russia’s South battlegroup improved their tactical situation, defeated the personnel and equipment of the 53rd, 54th and 100th mechanized, 81st airmobile brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the 117th territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Kalinovo, Krasnogorovka, Seversk, and Serebryanka in the Donetsk People's Republic. A counterattack of the assault group of the 5th assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was repelled," the Ministry said.
Russian Armed Forces hit Ukrainian warehouses with fuel, UAVs
Russian troops have hit Ukrainian warehouses with fuel and UAVs, as well as enemy forces and military equipment in 146 districts, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"Over the past 24 hours, operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery groups of the Russian Armed Forces hit the following: AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, a fuel depot, a storage depot for unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as station sites of enemy servicemen and military equipment in 146 districts," the Ministry said.
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