Russian air defenses have reportedly downed an F-16 flying over southeastern Ukraine, marking a rare victory against Kyiv's NATO-supplied fighter jets.
"An F-16 aircraft was shot down in the Zaporizhzhia region at its launch site," Russian state news agency RIA Novosti posted to Telegram on Thursday. It cited Vladimir Rogov, the Kremlin-installed leader of the occupied region, who told RIA that the jet was shot down after launching a missile, though state-owned news agency Tass later reported that the F-16 was downed "before preparing a missile strike on the region."
Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for further information on the reports of the downed F-16.
Why It Matters
If true, this incident would mark only the second confirmed destruction of the American-made jets since Kyiv received its first batch in August, and it would be the first to have been downed by Russian fire.
In late August, Kyiv confirmed that an F-16 had crashed while repelling a Russian missile and drone attack. The cause of the crash drew significant speculation, with General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, stating that the pilot died while chasing down a cruise missile launched by Russia. Other Ukrainian officials suggested that the F-16 may have been accidentally hit by one of Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems in a friendly fire incident.
Russia claimed to have shot down another F-16 in September, though this was swiftly proven to be false.
Kyiv had long petitioned its Western allies to supply it with the fourth generation fighter aircraft and the jet's impressive capabilities have made them a valuable target for Russian air defenses.
Prior to Ukraine receiving its first F-16s, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that companies would be offering bounties for whoever was able to shoot down the first jets.
As reported by Tass on Friday, Sergei Shmotyev, director of the Russian company Fores, has promised to shell out 15 million rubles, or around $145,000, "for the destruction of the first American F-16 fighter in the zone of a special military operation."
What To Know
Ukraine has received dozens of the fighter jets, developed by U.S. aerospace and defense firm General Dynamics, which have reportedly proven effective against Russia's aerial fleet.
In August 2023, Denmark and the Netherlands pledged to send Ukraine 60 F-16s, and similar shipments have been promised by Norway, Belgium and Greece with the support of the U.S.
As calls to equip Ukraine with the jets grew, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the delivery of the aircraft would be considered by Moscow a "signal action" by NATO "in the nuclear sphere."
What People Are Saying
Russian military blogger and reporter Andrey Rudenko said via Telegram: "F-16 fighter jet destroyed in Zaporizhzhia region. Great pre-New Year news."
What Happens Next
The destruction of an F-16 by Russian air defenses would represent a major symbolic triumph for Moscow, considering the significance it placed on these jets being delivered to Ukraine.
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