Kyiv, Ukraine reported that a group of U.S. experts has joined in on the investigation to determine the cause of the crash of an F-16 warplane that Ukraine had recently acquired from its Western allies. The crash occurred earlier in the week during a Russian attack, according to the country’s air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, as stated on Telegram on Friday. Oleshchuk mentioned that a thorough analysis is already underway to understand the circumstances leading to the fighter jet going down.
This incident marked the first known loss of an F-16 aircraft in Ukraine. The warplanes had only arrived in the country by the end of the previous month, with reports suggesting that at least six of these aircraft had been delivered by European nations. Despite military analysts pointing out that the F-16s may not significantly alter the war dynamics against Russia’s well-equipped air force and advanced air defense systems, Ukrainian officials viewed these supersonic jets positively as they provide an opportunity to counter Russia’s air dominance with modern weapons compatible with NATO.
The Ukrainian armed forces are currently engaged in a defensive stance against Russia’s gradual advancement in eastern Ukraine, with Ukrainian troops successfully holding their ground in the Kursk border area of western Russia following a recent border breach. Commander Oleshchuk criticized a Ukrainian lawmaker who accused a Patriot air defense system of downing the F-16, emphasizing that such claims defame the air force and U.S. defense manufacturers.
The Institute for the Study of War commented that losses of Western-supplied military equipment were anticipated in the conflict. However, any setbacks, particularly involving the F-16s and trained pilots, would significantly impact Ukraine’s operational capabilities in air defense and ground support roles in the near future. In a recent attack overnight, Russia launched 18 Shahed drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, resulting in the destruction of 12 drones, with four not reaching their intended target. The assault caused casualties, including the death of a woman and a fire outbreak in Sumy, the administrative capital of the eponymous region bordering Russia’s Kursk region.
