U.S. experts have joined a Ukrainian investigation into the crash of an F-16 fighter jet that went down earlier this week during a Russian missile and drone barrage.
It’s believed to be the first loss of an F-16 since Ukraine received the aircraft from its Western allies. At least six of the jets were delivered by European nations late last month.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk announced the partnership on Friday, stating that a detailed analysis is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
The crash happened on Monday as Russia launched a powerful aerial assault on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force’s F-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location on August 4, 2024. One F-16 crashed on Monday when Russia launched a major missile and drone barrage at Ukraine, Ukraine’s military officials said.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Oleshchuk emphasized the importance of understanding the circumstances and identifying responsibility for the loss.
Although military analysts are of the opinion that the F-16s may not drastically alter the balance in the conflict, given Russia’s overwhelming air power and advanced defense systems, Ukrainian officials have welcomed the aircraft for its ability to carry modern NATO weapons and therefore challenge Russian air superiority.
But the downing has been raised some questions among Ukrainian officials.
Mariana Bezuhla, a Ukrainian lawmaker and deputy head of the parliament’s defense committee, claimed that the F-16 was accidentally downed by a U.S.-made Patriot air defense system—an opinion that has been criticized by Oleshchuk.
Bezuhla, citing unnamed sources, called for accountability for the alleged error.
Oleshchuk accused her of defaming the air force and discrediting U.S. defense manufacturers and even hinted at potential legal repercussions for her statements.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky answers media questions standing against the background of Ukraine’s Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 4, 2024.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said that losing Western-supplied military equipment in the ongoing conflict is to be expected.
However, it warned that the loss of any F-16s would significantly impact Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, given the limited number of jets and trained pilots available.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their assault on Ukraine, launching 18 Shahed drones and a ballistic missile overnight into Friday.
Ukraine’s air force reported that 12 of the drones were intercepted, while the remaining four crashed before reaching their targets.
The attack resulted in the death of at least one person and sparked a fire in Sumy, a city near the Russian border.
The American-made F-16 is a fighter jet that’s been the front-line combat plane of choice for the NATO alliance and numerous air forces around the world for decades.
U.S. President Joe Biden gave the go-ahead in August last year for F-16s to be deployed to Ukraine, though the U.S. won’t be providing any of its own planes.
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have committed to providing Ukraine with more than 60 of the fighters over coming months in what could be a slow trickle of deliveries.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
