F-16 will help Ukraine expand merchant routes in Black Sea — Ukraine’s navy chief

The delivery of American-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which is expected to take place shortly, will deprive Russia of superiority in the skies over the Black Sea.

Rubryka reports that Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, the Commander of the Navy of Ukraine, stated this in an interview with Reuters.

"F-16s with the right armaments will be able to push away Russian warplanes. The northwestern part of the Black Sea, particularly the corridor for civilian ships, will be almost 100% secure," he said.

According to Neizhpapa, considering the attacks and strikes of naval drones, Russian warships do not enter the northwestern part of the Black Sea on an area of ​​almost 25,000 square km.

He added that Ukraine would like to expand its shipping corridor, which covers only sea transportation from the three main Odesa ports, to include Mykolaiv and Kherson ports, but this is impossible. He referred to Russia's control of the Kinburn Spit, which juts out along this route.

According to him, in some areas, civilian vessels are accompanied by patrol boats that help provide protection against mines, and air defense equipment provides cover for both ports and corridors.

Ukraine's actions in the Black Sea have allowed it to create and secure its own shipping corridor without Russian approval after Moscow pulled out of a UN-brokered military food export deal last year.