Ukraine Verifies Delivery of F-16s

War-torn country has sought access to the fighter jets in order to modernize its air defenses following Russia's invasion in 2022.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 04:27 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Earlier this year, The Netherlands pledged dozens of F-16s to Ukraine. [Courtesy: The Netherlands Ministry of Defense]

Key Takeaways:

Ukraine has received an additional batch of F-16 fighter jets, confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy denied Russian claims of having shot down any of these aircraft, but did not disclose the number or origin of the newly delivered jets.
The F-16 deliveries are part of ongoing international efforts to modernize Ukraine's air force and enhance its defense capabilities, with multiple countries having pledged jets and pilot training underway since last year.

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Ukraine has taken delivery of a batch of F-16 fighter jets, the country’s president confirmed Wednesday.

“Additional F-16s have arrived in Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists at a press conference Wednesday, the Kyiv Independent reported. “The Russians lied that they shot down something there, they didn’t shoot anything down. And the good news is that several F-16 aircraft have arrived in Ukraine.”