Ukrainian Intel: Russia has 300 fighter jets ready against Ukraine

The West plans to provide Ukraine with 60 F-16 fighter jets. Before the full-scale war, Kyiv had about 100 Soviet combat planes.

Feb 24, 2024 - 08:20
Ukrainian Intel: Russia has 300 fighter jets ready against Ukraine

Russia can deploy nearly 300 fighter jets against Ukraine, Deputy Chief of Ukrainian Military Intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi told Interfax-Ukraine.

Skibitsky noted that the incoming Western F-16 jets will help Ukraine destroy Russian planes. 

“For three days, Russia bombed the Kanatove airfield near the city of Kropyvnytskyi to prevent us from deploying aviation there,” he said.

The exact number of F-16s for Ukraine is unclear. In summer 2023, the Netherlands and Denmark promised 42 and 19 aircraft – 61 jets combined. Belgium also vowed aircraft for 2025. 

The timing of the F-16 deliveries remains unclear too. Denmark originally planned to send their jets in spring 2024 but now says June 2024.

Ukrainian pilots now train on F-16s abroad, including the US. In 2023, President Biden said Kyiv promised not to use Western jets to hit Russia.

But on February 22nd, NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg said Ukrainian F-16 pilots could strike legitimate Russian military sites.

In 2022, Ukraine had about 100 MiG-29, Su-27, Su-24 and Su-25 fighter jets per FlightGlobal.

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