Ukrainian pilots have begun flying F-16s for operations – in what they hope will be a major turning point in their ongoing conflict with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was keen to show off the F-16s, which Kyiv has long lobbied for, at a Ukrainian air base

“F-16s are in Ukraine,” he said.

“We did it. I am proud of our guys who are mastering these jets and have already started using them for our country.”

The American-made F-16 is an iconic fighter jet that has been the front-line combat plane of choice for the NATO alliance and numerous air forces around the world for 50 years.

Built by Lockheed Martin, they have been on Ukraine’s wish list for a long time because Kyiv hopes they can be used to defend their skies from Russian attack and level the playing field in terms of air superiority – an important part of modern warfare.

The fighter jets are equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets, and missiles.

The arrival of the jets last week was a milestone for Ukraine, though it remains unclear how many are available and how much of an impact they will have in enhancing air defences and on the battlefield.

Zelenskyy admits Ukraine does not have enough pilots trained to use the F-16s or enough of the jets themselves: “The positive thing is that we are expecting additional F-16s… many guys are now training,” he said.

It is important, he said, that Kyiv’s allies find ways to expand training programmes and opportunities for both Ukrainian pilots and engineering teams.

Although new to Ukraine, the F-16s are actually older jets provided by Western allies.

F-16s are operated by several countries, including Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark – some of whom have pledged their aircraft to Ukraine.

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Russia has been targeting bases that may house them and vowed to shoot them down.

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Ukraine has previously relied on an ageing fleet of Soviet-era warplanes which are outgunned by Russia’s more advanced and bigger fleet.

Russia has used that edge to conduct regular long-range missile strikes on targets on frontline positions and across Ukraine with thousands of guided bombs, supporting its forces that are slowly advancing in the east.

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