Kyiv [Ukraine], May 2: Ukraine will begin operating F-16 fighter jets after Orthodox Easter on May 5, according to Ukraine's surprise announcement in a context where the country has long been waiting for Russian fighter jets. Western production.
"We are waiting," Ukrainian air force spokesman Ilya Yevlash said, adding that these planes will fly over Ukraine "after Easter," Newsweek reported on May 1. .
Several Western countries supporting Ukraine, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium, have pledged to supply F-16 aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin to Ukraine.
Kyiv has long asked its allies for advanced jets to upgrade and supplement its air force after more than two years of fighting Russia's large and superior air force.
Russia has deployed aircraft outside the range of Ukraine's air defense forces to carry out devastating guided bomb attacks.
However, there is still uncertainty about when Kyiv will receive the F-16 and put it into action against Russian forces.
An anonymous senior Ukrainian military officer told Politico that the country "needs F-16s in 2023, but they will not be relevant in 2024."
Western countries say that before the jets take off in Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers must complete training programs and the necessary infrastructure and facilities must be put into use there. this country.
On April 30, Danish Ambassador to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen expressed optimism and said that F-16 aircraft "will arrive" in Ukraine soon.
Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said late last month that Belgium would "do everything possible" to deliver F-16s to Ukraine by the end of 2024. The aircraft are expected to arrive in Ukraine in 2025.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper