The pilots of The Ukrainian Air Force began flying F-16 fighter jets in operations in the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today, confirming the long-awaited arrival of American aircraft nearly two and a half years after the start of the Russian invasion, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The Ukrainian leader announced the delivery of the fighter jets, which Kiev has been demanding since the first year of the war, at a meeting with Air Force pilots at an air base, standing between two of the fighter jets received as two more flew overhead.
"F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it. I'm proud of our guys who are mastering these fighters and have already started using them for our country," he said.
"Now this is a reality, a reality in our sky,", the Ukrainian head of state said at a ceremony in an undisclosed location, notes AFP.
Zelensky did not reveal how many planes were received from Kiev, but said only that their number was "insufficient" and that Ukraine expects "additional" supplies.