US President Joe Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hosts an event on the Ukraine Compact during the 75th NATO Summit in Washington on July 11, 2024. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM

KIEV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is now deploying U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets as part of its military operations against Russia.

“I wish our Air Force and all our warriors to feel the pride of Ukrainians in our combat aviation and to bring Ukraine the combat results that will bring our victory closer – our just peace for Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote Sunday in a post on X.

A video distributed on X shows various fighter jets in the Ukrainian sky, including the F-16. Sunday is being marked as Air Force Day in Ukraine.

“I am proud of all our guys who are skillfully mastering these aircraft and have already started using them for our state,” he said.

Zelenskyy did not provide any information on how many of the long-requested fighter jets have now arrived in Ukraine.

“So far, the number of F-16s available in Ukraine and the number of pilots already trained are not enough,” he said.

Several Western media reports had recently indicated that 10 F-16 fighters have been delivered to Ukraine so far.

The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium have together promised Ukraine over 60 of the U.S.-made fighter jets and have taken over the training of Ukrainian pilots.

According to U.S. media reports, the weapons and equipment for the jets are to come from the United States.

Ukraine has previously operated former Soviet fighter jets, although the aircraft deployments have been limited by formidable Russian air capabilities.

According to Ukrainian military experts, the F-16s are unlikely to be used in direct air combat with Russian aircraft over the front line, as Russia has built up a dense air defense network.

In addition, the Russian military is likely to attempt to destroy the F-16s at their bases in Ukraine.

Ukrainian defense forces have been urgently seeking help to repel frequent Russian airstrikes and attacks that have routinely targeted Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

In his post on Sunday, the Ukrainian president stressed that the country has long been working with foreign supporters to “close the Ukrainian sky from Russian missiles and aircraft.”

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