F-16s Strike Russian Territory

• 13.04.2025, 20:19

A Pentagon consultant assesses the successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Despite initial logistical issues and compatibility problems with older aircraft models, Ukraine now possesses operational F-16s capable of handling complex missions. This marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s combat capabilities—a shift from cautious deployment to effective front-line operations. This is according to Ruben Johnson, a former Pentagon consultant and expert on foreign military affairs at the Casimir Pulaski Foundation in Warsaw, writing for 19FortyFive.

It is noted that the jets are successfully intercepting Russian missiles, destroying Iranian drones, and striking targets inside Russia itself. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the Ukrainian Air Force is using its F-16s daily to target Russian launchers and missile storage bunkers.

“They fly every day; they’ve countered a large number of cruise missile threats and also carried out a significant number of offensive strikes, particularly bombing runs in the east,” said General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of U.S. European Command, in a recent statement.

According to a Ukrainian F-16 pilot, more than 80% of the munitions fired from these aircraft have successfully hit their targets. He noted that the F-16s now carry out offensive air defense missions “every day,” complementing ground attack operations over occupied territories in Ukraine, as well as inside Russia itself.

“The fact that these aircraft are striking inside Russian territory is a fundamental shift,” the author concluded.

It is recalled that Ukraine received F-16s primarily from Northern European countries, including the Netherlands and Denmark.