F-16 fighters are already protecting the airspace of Kharkiv: volunteer Sapronov
There is currently no official confirmation of Ukraine's receipt of these aircraft.
Kharkiv businessman and volunteer Yuriy Sapronov shared the news on his Facebook, stating, he saw and heard F-16 planes in the sky over Kharkiv. Referring to information from the military, he described the new sound and high-speed flight of the plane, which did not leave him indifferent.
“Yesterday in the afternoon, I heard (three times) a NEW sound. I even saw a plane for a moment, but it was flying very fast. I checked with the military. F-16!!! An F-16 line from the Kharkiv sky was pissing the Russians on THEIR territory”, – wrote Sapronov.
Note that Sapronov’s post did not leave his followers indifferent. In their comments, they confirmed that they had personally heard and seen Western fighter jets over Kharkiv.
There is still no official confirmation of the appearance of the F-16 in Ukraine. However, Western mass media are actively spreading information about the transfer of these planes to Ukraine. An August 1 Institute for the Study of War review reported that the first batch of F-16s had recently arrived in Ukraine, and more aircraft were expected to arrive. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis confirmed that a certain number of F-16s were in Ukraine on July 31. Video footage that likely shows F-16 activity over Ukrainian airspace also supports this version.
Ukrainian officials have so far refrained from commenting on this information. It is known that Ukraine plans to use the F-16 as part of a broader air defense umbrella, in coordination with existing air defense systems. However, as the Institute for the Study of War points out, in order to realize this vision, Ukraine needs to obtain a significant number of aircraft. Ukrainian forces likely will not be able to integrate the F-16 into conventional air defense or long-range strike missions until additional aircraft are received.
The appearance of the F-16 in the sky over Kharkiv may indicate a new stage in Ukraine’s military operations against Russian aggression. If the information is confirmed, it will be an important step in strengthening Ukrainian defense capabilities and increasing the effectiveness of the country’s air defense.
