Western F-16 fighters begin to 'achieve' for Ukraine on the front line

Russia fired dozens of missiles and drones over Ukraine for a second straight day on August 27, including several that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said were shot down by Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets.

Mr Zelenskyy said the Russian attack, which used 81 drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, killed at least five people, injured 16, and destroyed a hotel, homes, residential buildings and key infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers use machine guns during a Russian missile and drone attack in Kiev, August 26. Photo: AP

Commenting on Ukraine's first use of F-16s to shoot down missiles, Mr. Zelenskyy thanked Ukraine's supporters but said there were too few F-16s and too few pilots trained to fly them.

The Ukrainian military has listed areas and territories from which Russia has launched missiles and drones. Mr. Zelenskyy and other senior officials have repeatedly called on the United States to lift the restrictions and allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, where the military infrastructure Russia uses for the war is located.

Earlier on August 26, a fierce attack by more than 100 missiles and drones on energy facilities across Ukraine left Kiev and other cities without power in hot weather. Regional authorities said air defense systems destroyed all the drones and missiles but falling debris caused damage.

A Ukrainian F-16. Photo: Ukrainian Air Force

Following the August 26 attacks, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called on Ukraine's allies to supply long-range weapons and allow their use on targets inside Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the attacks used "long-range air and sea-based precision weapons and drones against key energy infrastructure facilities supporting the activities of Ukraine's military-industrial complex. All designated targets were hit."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the front line, Russian officials reported that four Ukrainian missiles were shot down over Russia's Kursk border region.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tiem-kich-f-16-cua-phuong-tay-bat-dau-lap-cong-cho-ukraine-tren-chien-tuyen-post309623.html