A NATO-supplied F-16 fighter jet, recently delivered to Ukraine as part of its air defense upgrade, has reportedly been shot down by Russian forces while attempting to conduct a missile strike on targets in the Zaporizhzhia region, Obektivno.bg reports, citing a Russian source in Telegram.
According to Vladimir Rogov, co-chairman of Russia’s Coordination Council for the Integration of New Regions, the F-16 was in a position to fire upon the region when it was intercepted by Russian air defenses. “The F-16 was on the launch pad, preparing to strike when it was downed,” Rogov stated on his Telegram channel.
The reported incident is part of a larger offensive by the Ukrainian Air Force, with around 12 Ukrainian jets allegedly involved in missile strikes across the Zaporizhzhia region.
While the Ministry of Defense has not yet confirmed the downing, there are claims that the jet was brought down by Russian surface-to-air missile systems operating in the area.
While confirmation remains pending, the downing of the F-16 highlights the ongoing tension between advanced Western weaponry and Russian air defense systems.
The use of these jets, which were recently delivered to Ukraine by NATO countries including Denmark, was intended to bolster Ukraine’s offensive capabilities against Russian forces. However, this marks one of the first reported losses of a NATO-supplied fighter jet in active combat…
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/12/26/russian-sam-reportedly-shot-down-an-f-16-over-zaporizhzhia/
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-says-it-has-shot-down-us-made-f-16-over-ukraine