Written by Anastasiia Ratieieva
At the end of September 2024, Russian media and propaganda outlets reported on the alleged destruction of several F-16 aircraft at the Ukrainian airbase in Starokostiantyniv. This narrative was based on a claim that hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were used to destroy F-16s and kill NATO personnel. This campaign is part of a larger information campaign aimed at undermining trust in Western military assistance to Ukraine and reducing its scope.
According to the Ukrainian side, the information regarding the loss of F-16s is false. Such messages are used to sway public opinion by emphasising the alleged “ineffectiveness” of Western aircraft in a war.
Russian Telegram channels emphasised the significant losses of both equipment and personnel, though the numbers of destroyed aircraft and foreign military killed varied significantly. This is a common feature of a propaganda campaign: emotional colouration, exaggeration of losses, and a lack of concrete confirmation from official sources.
Putin on Telegram, Telegram channel (941,000 followers):
“A ‘Dagger’ missile strike damaged 3 F-16s in Ukraine. In the Ukrainian segment of Telegram, they complain about some kind of “air ambush” that did not allow them to detect the use of the aircraft.”
Oleksandr Kots, Z-war correspondent, Telegram channel (617,000):
“A strike by the Daggers on the airfield in Starokonstantinov. The airfield was chosen as a place to base F-16s. Some Ukrainian sources are already reporting the loss of four ‘Americans’ in this strike.”
Vladimir Solovyov, Telegram channel, (1,300,000):
“According to information from monitoring Telegram channels, four F-16 fighters could have been destroyed as a result of the Russian Armed Forces strikes.”
ZHYVOV Z, Telegram channel, 117,000:
“Instead of 5 aircraft, they report three, two of which are F16s. But what is more interesting is the death of a large number of NATO officers. This once again indicates the direct involvement of the alliance in the war with Russia. While diplomats and the Western media continue to pretend to decide on strikes against Russia, NATO troops are already preparing to carry them out under the Ukrainian flag.”
Military Observer, anonymous Telegram channel, 117,000:
Nine NATO Air Force staff officers, including 6 Americans and 3 French, were killed in yesterday’s missile strike.
The objectives of propaganda
Discrediting Western Aid: The intensification of Russian propaganda comes as Ukraine receives new weapons from the West, including F-16 fighters from the Netherlands and other weapon systems. With the US announcing a new $7.9 billion military aid package and intensifying training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, the spread of false information about their alleged destruction is intended to undermine trust in the effectiveness of Western equipment.
Strengthening the narrative about NATO’s involvement in the war: One important aspect of the information campaign is the emphasis on the alleged deaths of NATO officers as a result of a missile strike. This is intended to promote the narrative that NATO is directly involved in the war against Russia, thereby justifying Russia’s aggressive actions and escalation, including new nuclear threats.
Intimidation and discouragement: Constant reports of “massive strikes” and “significant losses” are part of Russia’s intimidation strategy, which aims to demoralise Ukrainian society and its Western partners.
Fake reports about the destruction of the F-16 are yet another example of Russian information operations aimed at manipulating public opinion and undermining Western assistance to Ukraine. The primary tools of such campaigns are the dissemination of unverified information via propaganda channels and military correspondents, exaggeration of losses, and emotional manipulation. Given the West’s growing support for Ukraine and new arms supplies, we can expect Russia to continue such information attacks.
