Ukrainian President Zelensky announced this morning that the Dutch government is now preparing the final transfer of eighteen U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.
I spoke with @MinPres Mark Rutte to thank the Dutch government for its decision to start preparing the initial 18 F-16 jets for their delivery to Ukraine.
I also thanked the Netherlands for actively supporting the opening of Ukraine’s EU accession talks and emphasized the… pic.twitter.com/bYCMpZLA3p— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / ????????? ?????????? (@ZelenskyyUa) December 22, 2023
However, Russian military bloggers also reported this morning that last night’s Shahed-136 drone strikes in Starakostyantyniv, Dnipro, and Kryvyi Rih were attempts to target at least twelve of these aircraft that are already in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that it shot down 24/28 of those drones which targeted several oblasts including Odessa and Kyiv.
Russian military blog Chvkmedia made this report:
”One full squadron of F-16s is already on the territory of the so-called Ukraine: up to 12 combat and 3 training aircraft. By mid-spring, it is planned to transfer another squadron.
Throughout December, high-precision parts for these aircraft are being delivered through Lvov. That’s why they are hitting Starokonstantinov, Dnepropetrovsk, and Krivoy Rog.
There are also training flights of Ukrainian F-16s over Romania and Western Ukraine, and the use of airfields in Ivano-Frankivsk and Uzhgorod for these purposes.
The reports of the Russian General Staff note the first combat launches of anti-radar missiles in the Northern Military District zone.“
This claim has not been verified by either the Dutch or Ukrainian government.
