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F-16 in Ukraine: Zelensky officially confirmed and showed the first footage
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially confirmed the receipt of Western F-16 fighter jets. According to the head of state, the modern fighters are already performing missions.
On August 4, Air Force Day, Zelensky posted the first video of F-16s in Ukraine on his official Telegram channel. They, as well as MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, flew in the sky during a ceremony to greet the soldiers, the President's Office reported.
Zelensky did not specify what tasks the fighters perform, but said that "the number of aircraft and pilots is not enough".
"F-16s are in Ukraine. We have ensured this. I am proud of all our guys who are mastering these aircraft and have already started using them for our country. I thank our team for this result," the president wrote.
He also expressed gratitude to all partners "who are really helping with the F-16s," and to the first states to accept Kyiv's request for the aircraft - Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States, and all of Ukraine's partners.
"We appreciate your support! And I wish our Air Force, all our soldiers to feel the pride of Ukrainians in our combat aviation and to bring Ukraine exactly the kind of combat results that will bring our victory - our just peace for Ukraine - closer. Glory to the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Glory to our people! Glory to Ukraine!"
Earlier, Bloomberg wrote about the first deliveries of F-16s from NATO countries, citing sources.
The Economist magazine reported that there are already ten fighters in the Ukrainian sky.