Russian strikes on airbases raise concerns over safety of new F-16s

Attacks expose holes in Ukraine defences amid imminent arrival of fighter jets

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Russia’s claims to have struck three Ukrainian airbases in as many days has exposed gaping holes in Kyiv’s air defence capabilities, and triggered questions over how it will protect a fleet of F-16 fighters due to arrive in the country.

Alongside the equipment losses, the Russian strikes this week are a major symbolic blow to Kyiv, five months after it said its priority for 2024 was to gain full control of the skies.

Moscow’s defence ministry said it destroyed at least six Ukrainian planes and a helicopter in missile strikes on three separate bases this week, publishing drone reconnaissance footage of the strikes.

In the most serious strike, it claimed five Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets were destroyed at the Myrgorod base in the Poltava region, around 150 kilometres from the border with Russia.

It also said an Iskander missile hit a parked Mi-24 army helicopter, and a MiG-29 was destroyed in an attack on an airbase in Dolgintsevo, around 100 kilometres behind the front line.

“The main problem is the lack of very-short and short (range) air defence,” said Mr Konrad Muzyka, director of Rochan Consulting, an open-source analysis group studying the conflict.

“It prevents Ukraine being able to shoot down Russian drones,” he added.

That means Russia can fly reconnaissance drones deep into Ukrainian territory to secure live intelligence and coordinates for missile strikes.