The first Western F-16 fighter jets seem to have appeared in the Ukrainian sky, Zelenskyy names the main goal of the Russians in the east, Zelenskyy gives 3 reasons why the Russian army manages to advance at the front
The first Western F-16 fighter jets seem to have appeared in the Ukrainian sky
The first Western F-16 fighter jets seem to have appeared in the Ukrainian sky. A number of influential Western media outlets, as well as some Western politicians, wrote about this and the probable first use of aircraft on July 31. Ukraine has not officially confirmed the arrival of the aircraft.
On July 31, Bloomberg reported that Ukraine had received the first batch of F-16s. According to the agency’s sources, Ukraine’s allies met the deadline for the delivery of fighter jets, which was set for the end of July. Bloomberg sources also noted that the number of delivered aircraft was small. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis confirmed that Ukraine had already received the first batch of F-16s, and “another impossible thing turned out to be totally possible.”
How many planes are already in Ukraine? According to The Times, the first six F-16s were delivered to Ukraine from the Netherlands. Several more fighters are due to arrive from Denmark soon, The Times’ sources said. Earlier, The New York Times wrote that by the end of 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to use about ten F-16s in combat missions. Exactly a year ago, in August 2023, the USA first approved sending F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands as soon as pilot training was completed.
What can they be armed with? According to the Wall Street Journal, the United States has agreed to arm the fighter jets to be transferred to Ukraine with US-made missiles and other modern weapons. In particular, these include AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missiles; modern AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles; JDAM kits for converting unguided bombs into smart projectiles; AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missiles and other types of weapons.
Have F-16s already been used in combat missions? The Telegraph has learned that Ukrainian pilots have already made their first combat sorties in Ukraine using F-16s. According to the British newspaper, these aircraft have so far been used as additional means of air defense for Ukraine to protect against Russian strikes.
Neither the Ukrainian Air Force, nor the General Staff of Ukraine, nor the Presidential Office has officially confirmed the delivery of Western fighter jets. “I wish there were fewer speculations. After all, we should always listen to official comments,” said Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Presidential Office. The White House also refused to confirm the delivery of F-16s, suggesting that journalists “talk to the Ukrainians.”
So far, there is no confirmed photo or video evidence of the presence of fighter jets in Ukraine. However, the specialized portal The War Zone drew attention to the photos posted on social media on July 31, but cannot confirm their authenticity. They allegedly show an F-16 flying over the center of Lviv. At the same time, The War Zone notes that if the media reports about the first use of aircraft as air defense in Ukraine are true and it happened within days or even hours after their arrival in Ukraine, then the execution of combat missions at this stage would be “very rapid progress, although not impossible.”
Zelenskyy named the main goal of the Russians in the east
The main goal of the army of the aggressor country Russia after they failed to take Kharkiv is Pokrovsk. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with French journalists published on Thursday, August 1.
According to him, the Russians will no longer be able to take Kharkiv. Now they have a different priority.
“The main goal has been changed, their main direction is Pokrovsk. Today, this is a priority for them. The Pokrovsk sector and the city of Pokrovsk,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that the situation in the whole east is difficult. The Russians want to take all big cities of Donbas — Kostyantynivka, Sloviansk, Toretsk, and others. Today, the occupiers are concentrating the largest number of weapons and personnel in the Pokrovsk sector.
According to the AFU General Staff, the hottest situation is in the Pokrovsk sector. During the past 24 hours the Defense Forces repelled 55 assaults by the occupiers in the vicinity of Vozdvyzhenka, Zhelanne, Serhiyivka, Panteleymonivka, Novooleksandrivka, Ivanivka, Lysychne, Tymofiyivka, Karlivka, Kalynove and Grodivka.
Zelenskyy explained why the Russian army manages to advance at the front
The main reasons for the advance of the Russians at the front are the shortage of weapons in 14 Ukrainian brigades, contempt for the lives of soldiers in the Russian army, as well as the absence of permission for Ukraine to strike the territory of the aggressor country with Western weapons.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with French journalists.
“There are several reasons why the Russians are advancing at the front. If we solve them, we will be able to stop them. We no longer keep it a secret that we were preparing 14 brigades that we wanted to equip with weapons… In your opinion, if three out of fourteen brigades are equipped, is it possible to stop (the offensive- ed.)?” – Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the latest Western military aid packages were intended for arming the reserve units, which were supposed to replace combat units on the battlefield, as well as for arming the military who are already at the front and need shells.
“At the same time, reserves were being prepared. We have already spent a year and a half on this. It’s just an ongoing process as you rebuild your army. When European and U.S. military aid packages have recently been discussed, they primarily concerned the provision of 14 brigades with weapons. Frankly speaking, at least ten. Because the guys who are on the battlefield need a rotation. They need to rest. And how can we carry out the rotation if the brigades that are supposed to replace them are empty,” the President of Ukraine said.
Zelenskyy noted that the second reason for Russia’s advance is that Russian soldiers who are advancing are afraid to turn back. “They are killed there if they return, and that’s the truth… (Russian dictator Vladimir – ed.) Putin doesn’t care, he doesn’t count people. Of course, when you have such a difference in approaches to freedom and people’s rights with your enemy, you must have another advantage. And another advantage is, first of all, weapons and technology,” he emphasized.
He cited the impossibility of using Western weapons to destroy military targets on enemy territory as the third reason for the Russian advance.
“What would you do if you knew that 30, 60 or 100 kilometers from the border the Russians have multiple launch rocket systems, planes that are bombing us or other weapons, including Grads and S-300s, which they use from Belgorod, knowing that we have no right to destroy their weapons?” Zelenskyy added.