Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, addressed Ukrainians from a bunker on Bankova Street, where his first conversations with world leaders took place at the beginning of the war. He emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people and expressed a desire to one day come there with the US President.
On February 19, the US and Canada intercepted five Russian aircraft near Alaska. They remained in international airspace, not entering sovereign US or Canadian airspace.
UNN tells about the uniqueness of American aircraft, how much the machines cost, and what made them popular.
Rumors about American pilots with combat experience in Afghanistan and the Middle East, who are now performing combat missions in Ukraine, were spread by foreign media.
Slovakia plans to acquire four more F-16V Block 70/72 Viper fighter jets to strengthen its air defense. This decision is related to the transfer of its entire fleet of MiG-29s to Ukraine.
A secret international F-16 squadron of US and Dutch veterans is patrolling the skies over Kyiv region. The pilots detect and destroy cruise missiles and drones, sharing their experience with Ukrainian pilots.
Chinese J-16 fighter jets performed dangerous maneuvers near Taiwanese F-16 aircraft during military exercises in December. One J-16 fired decoy flares, another flew in a firing-ready position.
The Swedish company Saab is building a portfolio of potential orders for over 300 JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighters. Ukraine could order up to 150 aircraft, and Canada – 72, with the possibility of localizing production.
The Air Force showed footage of a Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot destroying an enemy Shahed drone. The pilot used an aircraft cannon to eliminate the target.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini considers the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine a mistake, as the country did not have a full replacement for them. He refuted claims that the aircraft were unusable.
Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov met with NATO representatives to discuss defense assistance. Key cooperation priorities include strengthening air defense, developing Patriot, F-16s, and HIMARS, as well as joint work on technological superiority.
Ukraine and the Netherlands have agreed to localize the production of IRIS radars and supply Ruta missiles with a range of 450 km. This cooperation will strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and allow for more effective destruction of military targets.
Rob Jetten, the prospective Prime Minister of the Netherlands, has announced a refusal to negotiate with Moscow and continued support for Ukraine. The new Dutch government has committed to providing annual military aid to Ukraine and supporting its path to EU and NATO membership.
Ukrainian air defense uses a variety of systems to protect against Russian aerial targets. Air defense systems are classified by range and type, including Buk SAMs, NASAMS, Patriot, as well as mobile fire groups and aviation.
Zelenskyy held a selector meeting on the situation in the regions and the restoration of energy infrastructure, calling the work of the Air Force in intercepting drones unsatisfactory. He emphasized the need for changes in the organization of air defense, despite the available resources.
Romania is strengthening its military presence on the border with Ukraine due to regular threats from Russian drones. The country is deploying additional units and equipment, including radars and Gepard anti-aircraft systems.
Germany and the Netherlands want Ukraine to be able to buy American weapons with the €90 billion EU loan. France insists on preferential treatment for EU military companies.
Romania deployed F-16 aircraft to monitor the airspace situation on the border with Ukraine during the Russian drone attack on the Odesa region. Russian drones did not violate Romanian airspace.
Most of the 34 cruise missiles shot down during the night attack of the Russian Federation on December 23 were intercepted by F-16 aircraft. Three "Kinzhal" missiles did not reach their targets, although they were not intercepted by Patriot.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the key deficit in the war is trained pilots, not aircraft. He noted that Ukraine can use Polish MiG-29s, as Ukrainian pilots are already trained on them.
Norway has announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 3. 2 billion Norwegian kroner (about 267 million euros). The funds will be used to purchase ammunition for F-16s and air defense systems within the framework of the JUMPSTART initiative.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the downing of an out-of-control drone over the Black Sea. The target was detected and brought under control by an F-16 fighter jet.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha discussed the planned delivery of F-16 fighter jets and military aid to Ukraine with Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken. The conversation also touched upon Belgium's contribution to multinational NATO initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.
The Netherlands is providing Ukraine with a new military aid package worth 250 million euros through the PURL initiative. The funds will be used to purchase American weapons, including air defense systems and F-16 ammunition.
Russian propaganda is spreading disinformation that European countries are being attacked by "Ukrainian drones," not Russian ones. The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council calls the goal of such actions by the Russian Federation to discredit Ukraine and an attempt to influence public opinion in European countries in order to spoil Kyiv's relations with its allies.
Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov was summoned to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note of protest over the illegal flight of six drones. The Russian ambassador stated that the incident "needs to be investigated," as "many operations take place under a false flag."
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated the need for NATO to accelerate its work on strengthening the defense of the eastern flank against Russian drones. This came after Romania scrambled fighter jets twice due to the detection of drone incursions into its airspace on November 25.
Romania scrambled Eurofighter Typhoon and F-16 fighter jets twice on November 25 due to the detection of drone incursions into national airspace. Radars detected targets near Tulcea and Galați counties.
Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets on the night of November 21-22 to monitor the air situation on the border with Ukraine. This happened after intensified Russian attacks and the detection of drones in the Izmail area.
Since August 2024, Ukrainian F-16 and Mirage-2000 pilots have intercepted over 1,300 aerial and destroyed over 300 ground targets of the occupiers. The F-16s account for over 1,300 intercepted aerial targets and the elimination of hundreds of units of enemy equipment.
