F-16 are in Ukraine — Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky presented F-16 fighter jets in the sky of Ukraine during the Air Force Day celebrations, emphasizing the beginning of a new stage in the development of the Air Force. He noted that since the beginning of the full-scale war, service members of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already made 22,000 sorties.

Rubryka writes about this with reference to the Office of the President.

On the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the defenders on the holiday and honored them with state awards.

"Today, we honor the strength and skill of our people, thanks to which the sky of Ukraine remains Ukrainian, only Ukrainian. The enemy does not dominate and will not dominate the sky of our state!" the president said.

According to him, the occupiers "very much hoped" to destroy Ukrainian aviation and air defense, the ability of Ukrainians to defend their state.

"But the Ukrainians did not allow this, and this is real heroism when our Air Force soldiers had to face the larger Russian air fleet. And Ukraine was able to achieve its goals, was able to defend itself, destroy the occupier. In almost two and a half years of this war, our Air Force has already 22,000 combat sorties, and we are increasing the strength of our aviation," Zelensky emphasized.

The head of state noted that Ukraine now has modern and effective air defense systems and has learned to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles. However, these systems are not enough to completely close the sky above Ukraine.

"Such air defense systems are still not enough to cover the entire sky from Russian missiles and drones. However, Ukrainian air defense is already one of the strongest in Europe today. The Ukrainians have proven that they can shoot down even those Russian missiles, in particular ballistic ones, which they have long said are allegedly unattainable for the defenders of the sky. Ukrainians have proven that they are capable of protecting the purity of the Ukrainian sky from the enemy and protecting the lives of our people from Russian terror," the president emphasized.

He presented state awards and honors to defenders of the Ukrainian sky and honored the memory of fallen heroes.

During the Air Force Day celebrations, President Zelensky presented F-16 fighter jets in the sky of Ukraine, emphasizing the beginning of a new stage in the development of the air force.

"Now is a new stage in the development of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We have done a lot for the Ukrainian Air Force to switch to a new standard of aviation, to Western combat aviation. From the beginning of this war, we talked with our partners about the need to close the Ukrainian sky from Russian missiles and from Russian planes. We have held hundreds of meetings and negotiations to strengthen the capabilities of our aviation, our air defense, and our defense forces. We have often heard the word "impossible" in response, but we have made possible what was our ambition, our defense need, and now it is actually a reality, a reality in our skies," Zelensky said.

He thanked the Ukrainian pilots who are mastering new planes and international partners.

"Thank you to the partners who really effectively help with the F-16, and the first states that accepted our request for the provision of aircraft. Thank you, Denmark, the Netherlands, the USA and all our partners. We appreciate your support," Zelensky said, adding that all these steps bring Ukraine's victory in the war closer.

President Zelensky also noted that Ukraine is waiting for additional F-16 aircraft.

"I cannot yet tell you in detail what tasks our first F-16 aircraft will or have already performed; I do not have the right to comment on this. So far, the number of aircraft and the number of pilots who have already been trained is not enough. The positive thing is that we expect additional F-16s, and our guys, many guys, are training now," Zelensky said.

Minister of Defense Rustem Umyerov, Secretary of the National Security Council Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Head of the Office of the President Andrii Yermak, and the military leadership of the Air Force of the Armed Forces took part in the celebrations.

We remind you that the Day of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August.