Synopsis
On April 13, the Russian Defense Ministry declared that its forces had shot down a Ukrainian-operated F-16 fighter jet, marking a significant event since European nations began supplying these aircraft to Ukraine. President Zelensky confirmed the death of pilot Pavel Ivanov and hinted at a strong response against Russia.Key Takeaways
- Russian Defense Ministry claims to have shot down a Ukrainian F-16.
- First announcement of F-16 loss since European deliveries began.
- Ukrainian pilot Pavel Ivanov confirmed dead.
- Investigation launched into the cause of the jet's downing.
- Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway to supply F-16s to Ukraine.
Moscow, April 13 (NationPress) On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces had successfully shot down a US-designed F-16 fighter jet operated by Ukraine; however, the specific location was not disclosed.
This marks the first instance where the Russian military has stated it has destroyed an F-16 since several European nations began supplying the fourth-generation fighter aircraft to Ukraine last summer.
In their daily briefing, the ministry stated, "An F-16 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down by air defense means," but refrained from providing additional details, as reported by RT.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the loss of one of its F-16 fighters. An interdepartmental commission was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky later acknowledged that pilot Pavel Ivanov had perished "during an F-16 combat mission" and emphasized that there would be a "strong and precise" retaliation, implying Russia's involvement in the downing.
According to BBC Ukraine, a Ukrainian source indicated that the F-16 was targeted by the Russian military. "In total, the Russians launched three missiles at the aircraft. It was likely struck by either a guided anti-aircraft missile from an S-400 ground-based system or an R-37 air-to-air missile," the source claimed.
The source also dismissed the possibility of friendly fire as the cause of the jet's loss, asserting that Ukrainian air defenses were inactive in that region.
This incident marks the second confirmed loss of an F-16 for Ukraine. The first occurred last August, resulting in the pilot's death; however, the findings of the investigation into that incident have not been made public. Multiple media sources suggested that the aircraft was likely downed by a mistake from Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses.
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have committed to supplying Ukraine with up to 80 F-16s after receiving authorization from the Biden administration; however, most of these aircraft are expected to arrive in several years. In 2024, Ukraine received roughly 18 aircraft.
