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Ukraine lastly releasing US-made F-16 fighter jets, Zelenskiy says

Ukrainian pilots have actually begun flying F16s for operations within the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday, validating the longawaited arrival of the U.S.made fighter jets more than 29 months after Russia's. intrusion.

The Ukrainian leader revealed using F-16s, which Kyiv. has actually long lobbied for, as he fulfilled military pilots at an air base. flanked by 2 of the jets, with 2 more flying overhead.

F-16s remain in Ukraine. We did it. I take pride in our guys who. are mastering these jets and have currently begun using them for. our country, Zelenskiy stated at an area that authorities. asked Reuters not to disclose for security reasons.

Ukraine's top leader, Oleksandr Syrskyi invited the. arrival of the jets and thanked the president and other. authorities for working 24/7 to secure them. Their arrival, he. stated, would save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

This implies that more of the occupiers will be destroyed,. Syrskyi composed on Facebook. It suggests a greater number of downed. rockets and airplane used by the Russian bad guys to attack. Ukrainian cities.

The arrival of the jets is a turning point for Ukraine, however. it remains unclear the number of are available and how much of an. impact they will have in enhancing air defences and on the. battleground.

Russia has been targeting bases that may house them and. swore to shoot them down.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-16s had been on. Ukraine's dream list for a long time due to the fact that of their damaging. power and worldwide schedule. They are equipped with a 20mm. cannon and can bring bombs, rockets and missiles.

' BRAND-NEW PHASE'

Talking with reporters on the tarmac of an airfield, Zelenskiy. stated Ukraine still did not have adequate pilots trained to utilize the. F-16s or enough of the jets themselves.

The favorable thing is that we are anticipating extra. F-16s ... numerous guys are now training, he stated.

It was necessary, he said, that Kyiv's allies found ways to. expand training programs and opportunities for both Ukrainian. pilots and engineering teams.

Ukraine has actually formerly relied on an ageing fleet of. Soviet-era warplanes that are outgunned by Russia's more. innovative and much more numerous fleet.

Russia has utilized that edge to perform regular long-range. rocket strikes on targets throughout Ukraine and also to pound. Ukrainian frontline positions with countless guided bombs,. supporting its forces that are gradually advancing in the east.

This is the new phase of development of the flying force of. Ukraine's militaries, Zelenskiy stated.

We did a lot for Ukrainian forces to shift to a new. air travel standard, the Western combat air travel, he included,. citing hundreds of conferences and unrelenting diplomacy to get. the F-16s.

We frequently heard 'it is difficult' as a response, but we. still made our aspiration, our protective requirement, possible, he said.

It remains unclear what missiles the jets are geared up with. A longer range of rocket would enable them to have a greater. battlefield effect, military experts say.

Zelenskiy stated he likewise wished to lobby allied neighbouring. nations to assist obstruct Russian missiles being launched at. Ukraine through discussions at the Ukraine-NATO Council. platform.

This is another tool, and I wish to try it, so that NATO. countries can talk to Ukraine about the possibility of a small. coalition of neighbouring nations shooting down opponent. rockets, he said.

I believe this choice is most likely challenging for our. partners. They are constantly afraid of excessive escalation, however we. are fighting that..

(source: Reuters)