Loud explosions tore the sky above Starokostiantyniva small town in western Ukraine, as Ukrainian air defenses repelled a new Russian attack. This military outpost, known for its important air basehas been a frequent target of Moscow’s offensives since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. As if that were not enough, yesterday the Kremlin forces attacked the Ukrainian military airport of Myrhorod in the Poltava region, resulting in the loss of 7 jets. These attacks are a reminder that Kiev needs certain types of weapons to respond to the attacks that Russia makes especially with the fearsome glide bombs: an example are the F-16s that the United States (and not only) have promised to send soon.
The F-16s: where they will arrive
The attack was particularly significant as it occurred just weeks before the expected arrival of the first F-16 fighter jets, designed in the United States and to be supplied to Ukraine by NATO, led by Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. Kiev hopes that the aircraft will bolster its forces, which are fighting against Russian advances along the front, especially against glide bombs. Although Ukrainian officials have not yet revealed where the F-16s will be based, it is clear that Moscow sees these facilities as primary targets. A Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said that the strikes, while problematic, will not jeopardize the delivery or operation of the F-16s. At the same time, military analysts believe that the Russians are targeting airbase infrastructure, such as runways and depots, to prevent the effective use of the new jets.
The leap in quality with the F-16s
Ukraine has been waiting for months to use NATO fighter jets and hopes that their introduction will change the dynamics of the war. Russia, so far, is bombing from within its borders, using the 70-kilometer range of glide bombs. Zelensky himself stated, just in recent days, that “Ukraine needs the necessary means to intercept aerial bombs”. The F-16s would represent a qualitative leap for the Ukrainian army, currently composed of MiG-29s, Su-24s and Su-25s, already “tested” by years of war. The Made in USA fighters can carry a greater load of weapons and are equipped with a more powerful radar system, which can help mitigate the disadvantage between Kiev and Moscow.
Attacks on air bases
Despite the ongoing threat, residents of Starokostiantyniv are showing remarkable resilience. Vasyl Muliar, a city official and expert on local culture, joked about the difficulties of living in the city, reflecting on the community’s spirit of adaptation. their ancestors. Seven Ukrainian military jets were destroyed in a missile attack carried out yesterday by Russian forces on the Myrhorod airport, the Defense Ministry announced, specifying that the attack was carried out with Iskander-M missiles and that five Su-27 jets parked on the runway and two others that were being repaired were destroyed. The ministry published a video of the bombing.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Read the full article on
The messenger
