Russia targeting Ukrainian airbases where F-16 fighters will fly from
Russia is firing missiles at Ukrainian bases in an apparent attempt to stop them from receiving F-16 jets, which have been dubbed “war-winners” for their potential to repel Russia’s onslaught on the front line.
Russia’s defence ministry said on Thursday it had used an Iskander ballistic missile to destroy a Mig-29 fighter jet at the base at Dolgintsevo in central Ukraine.
It marked the third day in a row that Russia has launched missiles at an airbase shortly after flying surveillance drones overhead, and comes ahead of a long-awaited delivery of F-16s.
The American jets have been the object of Ukraine’s desires for months, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hailing them as potential game-changers.
The first batch is due to arrive this month after Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium agreed to send them with the US’s permission.
The jets, which can reach speeds of 1,300mph, are among the most advanced in the world, though analysts have been divided on their ability to change the course of the war.
For some, the F-16s are “war-winners”, while others have warned against seeing them as some sort of “silver bullet” against Russia.
The Kremlin, however, is anticipating their arrival and striking accordingly, said retired US Lt-Gen Ben Hodges
“It is to be expected that Russia will do all it can to disrupt Ukraine gaining this kind of air power capability,” said Lt-Gen Hodges, who was a former commander of the US army in Europe.
“It will be striking airfields, maintenance capabilities, and all that is required for Ukraine’s air force to operate the F-16s.”
The first of these strikes came on Tuesday when Russia said it destroyed five Su-27 fighters at the Myrgorod airfield, 100 miles from the Russian border, with hypersonic missiles.
On Wednesday it hit an airfield in the east-central city of Poltava, damaging and possibly destroying a Mil Mi-24 gunship helicopter.
Though Ukraine said the losses from Tuesday’s attack had been exaggerated, with analysts putting the number at close to two, an air force spokesman said the strikes presented “certain difficulties”.
Analysts say Ukraine has yet to solve the problem of how to hide and protect them and the infrastructure they need.
“The answer is more air defences,” said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute.
The problem with simply using other aircraft to protect the jets is that Ukraine cannot afford for them to be shot down by Russia’s long-range missiles, he added.
Lt-Gen Hodges said Ukraine’s air force is likely to rise to the challenge and “find ways to move the aircraft around, use decoys and harden its air base defences.
“The Ukrainian is very good at protecting its assets and distracting and deceiving the enemy.”
Lt-Gen Hodges said Western nations must heed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s urgent calls for more long-range weapons and lift the restrictions on striking inside Russian territory so Kyiv can target Moscow’s jets.
“Ukraine needs to wreck the other side’s ability to fly. The best thing to do is kill the archer, rather than intercept the arrows,” he said.
