Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that Ukrainian F-16 fighters were deployed to counter a Russian airstrike. This marks the first time that their use in combat operations has been officially acknowledged.
During the night of August 25 – 26, 2024, more than 200 missiles and drones were launched in the attack, with targets including the Kyiv hydroelectric dam.
“In the context of this massive missile attack, we have shot down some missiles with the help of the F-16s, and we thank our partners for providing them to us,” Zelenskky said in an address on August 27, 2024, emphasizing the importance of the planes in Ukraine’s air defense strategy.
The president described the delivery of these jets as a “very, very good outcome” in the context of the ongoing conflict. However, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the current number of F-16s is insufficient for the country’s needs.
“Of course, this won’t be enough—we don’t have many of them, and we still need to train our pilots,” Zelenskyy stated.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Kyiv has relentlessly pleaded for the delivery of F-16s, in the hope of ending Russian air dominance and better protecting its cities and troops from daily Russian bombings.
The Ukrainian Air Force has previously explained its need for 120 to 130 of these aircraft to achieve parity with the Russian Air Force. However, at this stage, Ukraine’s allies have only pledged around 60 F-16s, with delivery for most of these aircraft expected to be stretched over several years.
It is thought that around 20 Ukrainian airmen will be ready to fly F-16 fighter jets during 2024. To alleviate this pilot deficit, Ukraine is actively looking for willing retired pilots from NATO nations capable of operating its newly acquired F-16 fighter jets.