2024-07-31T19:14:00+03:00 War in Ukraine 2024-09-15T04:12:30+03:00

Ukrainian news

First batch of F-16s already in Ukraine - Bloomberg

First batch of F-16s already in Ukraine - Bloomberg

The first batch of F-16 fighters from NATO allies has arrived in Ukraine.

The Bloomberg agency reported this on Wednesday, July 31, with reference to knowledgeable sources.

"The first delivery of F-16 fighter jets from NATO allies has arrived in Ukraine, in a long-awaited move that may boost the war-torn nation’s ability to repel Russian attacks,” the report said.

According to the agency, the end of July was the deadline for the transfer of American-made military aircraft, and it was met. Currently, the number of fighter jets is small and it is unclear whether Ukrainian pilots will be able to use combat aircraft immediately or if the process will take more time, informed sources said. However, the very transfer of F-16 fighter jets should help Ukraine build up its capacity over time to overcome the superiority of the aggressor state russia in the air, Bloomberg reports.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on July 28, The Washington Post announced that F-16 fighter jets should arrive and appear in the sky of Ukraine within several weeks.

On July 10, U.S Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that the Netherlands and Denmark had begun transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Also, on July 10, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs at least 128 F-16 fighter jets to effectively confront russia.