Russia has said that all F-16s delivered to Ukraine will be shot down and will not have much impact on the battlefield. This statement came in response to reports that the first fighter jets had arrived, AFP reported.
"The number will gradually decrease, they will be shot down... But of course, these supplies will not have a significant impact on the development of events at the front," Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
For more than 2 years, Ukraine has been asking its Western allies for the US-made fighter jets. They have long been considered the crown jewel of the extensive list of military equipment Kiev wants from its Western backers.
For decades, the F-16 has been renowned for its precision, speed and range.
Kiev hopes the arrival of the fighter jets will allow it to better defend itself against Russian bombing.
Several NATO countries have pledged to provide varying numbers of fighter jets and have been training Ukrainian pilots and crews for months.| BGNES
