For the first time, Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets have been spotted over the Russian-occupied Kakhovka district in the Kherson region, according to reports from Russian media.
Pavel Filipchuk, the Russia-installed head of the Kakhovka municipal district administration, made this announcement in a video message posted on his Telegram channel.
Filipchuk said, “Since yesterday, F-16s have been flying over our district.” He characterized the appearance of the jets as a tactic designed to “sow panic” and undermine morale among the local population.
“It is important not to succumb to these sentiments and remain steadfast. Their lifespan is as long as that of a mosquito. They will all be shot down and destroyed,” he said.
Filipchuk also stated that the jets would soon join the list of exhibits at Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, where captured military equipment was displayed, emphasizing his belief that the aircraft would soon be destroyed.
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This development comes amid broader changes on the ground. Ukrainian forces have recently made significant advances into Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
On August 7, reports confirmed that Ukrainian troops had pushed up to 10 kilometers into Russian territory as part of ongoing mechanized offensive operations.
Geolocated footage from August 6 and 7 revealed that Ukrainian armored vehicles had advanced along the 38K-030 route, coming within 10 kilometers of the international border.
These gains suggest that Ukrainian forces have breached at least two Russian defensive lines and a stronghold.
Meanwhile, the appearance of Ukrainian F-16s in the Kherson region indicates their active involvement in operations against Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the arrival of these fighter jets on August 4.
A day earlier, The Economist reported that the first batch of ten out of 79 American F-16s had been delivered to Ukraine, marking a year since the Biden administration approved their transfer.
Ukrainian pilots had reportedly made their initial flights in these jets by the end of July, using them primarily for air defense.
On the other hand, Russia has downplayed the impact of these new weapons. The Russian President contended that the F-16s would not change the current front-line dynamics and would merely prolong the conflict.
F-16 Deliveries Won’t Alter The Balance of Power
Although the F-16 jets will offer a significant upgrade over Ukraine’s Soviet-era aircraft, experts suggest they are unlikely to dramatically shift the battlefield dynamics and will mainly bolster air defense capabilities.
In an interview on August 7, Jérôme Pellistrandi, a retired French general and chief editor at Revue Défense National, said that even with the addition of F-16s to the Ukrainian Air Force, the balance of power would likely remain with the Russian military.
He explained that while the West has pledged between 80 and 90 F-16s to Ukraine, these deliveries will be staggered over several years.
The introduction of these advanced jets represents a substantial enhancement for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has relied solely on Soviet-made aircraft until now. Nonetheless, he stressed the need for realism.
Pellistrandi cautioned that, given the limited number of planes promised and the lengthy delivery timeline, this influx of F-16s will not quickly alter the balance of power, which remains skewed in Russia’s favor.
Pellistrandi also highlighted that the F-16s being supplied are not drawn from American stocks but are aircraft from European air forces.
He pointed out that the challenge lies not only in transferring the planes but also in ensuring their effective utilization. Training Ukrainian pilots and maintenance personnel has been a lengthy process.
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Each F-16 requires a team of at least 20 people, including mechanics and pilots, which has contributed to the delay in their deployment to Kyiv, according to Pellistrandi.
When asked whether the combination of F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s could serve as a tipping point for Ukraine’s air capabilities, Pellistrandi suggested that it is too early to determine whether it will be a game-changer.
Currently, only about ten F-16s have been delivered, and more aircraft are needed to make a substantial difference. However, he said that the arrival of the Mirage 2000-5s could bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, particularly in countering Russian cruise missiles and preventing incursions by Russian aircraft.
The synergy between the F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s could enhance Ukraine’s defensive posture, but this process will be gradual. Ukrainian forces will need time to adapt to these more modern aircraft and integrate them into their existing systems and strategies.
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