Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy showed off Sunday U.S.-made F-16s as Kyiv received its first-ever batch of Western fighter jets.
For more than two years, Ukraine has pleaded with its Western partners for the aircraft – long considered the crown jewel in the sprawling list of military hardware Kyiv has sought.
“We often heard the word ‘impossible.’ Now it is a reality. Reality in our skies. F-16s in Ukraine. We made it happen,” Zelenskyy said, as some flew above him during the announcement.
Zelenskyy was standing in front of what looked like two grey, partially covered F-16s branded with the Ukrainian trident, in a location reporters were asked not to disclose for security reasons.
“I am proud of all our guys who are mastering these aircraft and have already started using them for our country,” he said.
He did not say how many jets had been delivered and declined to comment on their specific tasks, but AFP journalists saw at least two F-16s on the spot.
The announcement was welcomed by many as Kyiv’s forces are struggling to hold back advances by Russian troops.
‘Not enough’
“This is the combat aircraft we have been waiting for, which can significantly enhance our capabilities,” said Parliament chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Kyiv hopes the arrival of the fighter jets – touted for their precision, speed and range – will enable it to better protect itself from Russian bombardment.
They could begin to provide an offensive air capability to Ukraine, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Their decisiveness will however depend on several factors including the types of weapons provided with the planes and the proficiency levels of pilots, the report suggested.
Zelenskyy immediately warned more was 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 varying numbers of fighter jets and have been training Ukrainian pilots and crews for months.
“Our guys are training a lot,” Zelenskyy said, thanking Denmark, the Netherlands, the U.S. and other allies.
‘Saving lives’
Amid a Russian air campaign in recent months, Kyiv has placed Ukraine’s need for improved air defenses at the top of the agenda in meetings with allies.
“I am grateful to our allies for this decision. First and foremost, the effective use of modern aircraft means saving the lives of Ukrainian servicemen,” Armed Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrsky said.
During an interview with AFP in May, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed around 130 F-16s to secure parity with Russian air power.
Ukraine’s partners, however, have promised to send less than 100 F-16s to date, with most likely to arrive over the course of several years following substantial pilot training.
Recent strikes on Ukrainian airfields have also raised questions about Kyiv’s ability to protect the multi-million-dollar planes from Russian raids.
In early July, Russia claimed to have destroyed five military jets during a barrage on an air base in central Ukraine.
Following the bombing, Ukrainian military correspondents lambasted the air force’s top brass, saying planes at the airfield had been parked in the open without sufficient protection.
Russia warned last week that any F-16s delivered to Ukraine would be shot down and claimed they would have little impact on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s air force has long relied on a fleet of aging Soviet-era MIG-29 and Sukhoi jets, which have increasingly come under strain following more than two years of demanding combat missions.
