Ukraine\u2019s F-16 pilot shoots down six Russian missiles during a single mission in a historic first. More than 800,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the invasion. Trump\u2019s Ukraine envoy postpones Kyiv trip until after inauguration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a historic first, a Ukrainian pilot of a Western-supplied F-16 fighter jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles during a single deployment, head of the Communications Directorate for Ukraine\u2019s Air Force Command, Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interception took place during a major Russian aerial strike on December 13, 2024 that included 94 missiles. Russia used, among other types, air-, sea-, and ground-launched cruise missiles in the attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The F-16 pilot shot down six cruise missiles, using medium-range missiles, short-range missiles, and an aircraft cannon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The missiles had electronic warfare countermeasures, Ihnat said, citing a conversation with the pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe F-16s have a powerful fire control system \u2013 once the target is in sight, even electronic warfare countermeasures will not blind the radar. I positioned myself at a suitable distance, locked onto the targets, launched the missiles one after the other and hit them, destroying both targets!\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The F-16 fighter jet was equipped with four air-to-air missiles: two mid-range and two short-range projectiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pilot first used medium-range missiles. He then had to near the targets, coming at a distance of around two miles (approx. 3.2 kilometers) to fire short-range missiles to strike them with precision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pilot was recalled from the area, and a Su-27 was supposed to engage the targets, Ihnat said. The F-16 pilot spotted another missile, but had only an aircraft cannon available to try to intercept it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did everything like I was trained to by the instructors in the U.S. and at a simulator. [I fired] several salvos from a cannon \u2013 and there was an explosion followed by another one. A repeated explosion, I thought to myself,\u201d the pilot said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later checks showed that he intercepted two missiles. \u201cThey were flying close to each other,\u201d the pilot said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the full-scale invasion, 800,010 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Tuesday. Russia lost 1,970 soldiers in the past day alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has lost 9,710 tanks (including 10 in the past day), 20,189 armored fighting vehicles (including 25 in the past day), 21,710 artillery systems (including 45 in the past day), 1,260 multiple launch rocket systems (including two in the past day), 1,038 air defense systems (including four in the past day), 369 aircraft, 331 helicopters, 21,708 operational-tactical drones (including 83 in the past day), 3,014 cruise missiles, 28 warships and boats, a submarine, 33,226 vehicles and fuel tanks (including 170 in the past day), and 3,681 pieces of specialized equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last month, the Institute for the Study of War said that Russian forces had suffered an estimated 125,800 casualties during a period of intensified offensive operations in September, October, and November 2024 in exchange for 2,356 square kilometers of gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine\u2019s military put the number of Russian soldiers killed and wounded in December 2024 at 48,670 \u2014 the highest in 2024 and also the highest since the invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine\u2019s government project \u201cKhochu Nayti\u201d (I want to find) has received the data on 50,000 missing Russian soldiers through the hotline. The number of Russian troops missing in action since the invasion exceeds 100,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s incoming Ukraine envoy has postponed a fact-finding trip to Kyiv and other European capitals until after Trump\u2019s inauguration on January 20, Reuters said Monday, citing four sources with knowledge of the trip\u2019s planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Retired Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, who is set to serve as Trump\u2019s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, had initially planned a mission to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders in early January, Reuters reported last month. His team was also setting up meetings with officials in other European capitals, including Rome and Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the trip, which would have marked the first time incoming Trump administration officials headed to Kyiv since the November 5 election, has been pushed back, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kellogg is now expected to travel to Ukraine after Trump takes office, though no date has been set, the sources said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was not immediately clear why Kellogg was delaying the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to Radio NV on Tuesday, executive director of the Center for Political Studies Penta Oleksandr Leonov alleged that Kellogg\u2019s postponed visit signals that Trump\u2019s promise of solving the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office has failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is a correlation, as the visit was postponed after the interview [of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi with American podcaster Lex Fridman],\u201d Leonov said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I believe the main reason is that Trump\u2019s so-called \u2018blitzkrieg\u2019 on Ukraine has failed. (\u2026) That\u2019s an ultimate acknowledgment that solving Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine in 24 hours is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonov said that Trump wanted to finalize a draft peace deal or reach a truce before he takes office to announce it in his first speech as president. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLooks like there is no clear understanding of how to force Russia to the negotiating table, as Putin\u2019s rhetoric is openly contradictory,\u201d Leonov explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe insists on Ukraine\u2019s capitulation. Under these conditions, it\u2019s difficult to outline the next steps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Putin continues to refuse the talks, Trump will have to leverage his powers he doesn\u2019t yet have \u2014 sanctions or oil price regulations,\u201d Leonov added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"