KYIV, Ukraine — U.S. experts have joined a Ukrainian investigation into the crash of an F-16 fighter jet that Ukraine recently received from its Western allies. The aircraft went down earlier this week during a Russian attack, according to the country’s air force commander.
Commander Mykola Oleshchuk stated on Telegram that “a thorough analysis is already underway” to determine why the fighter jet crashed on Monday, during a significant missile and drone attack by Russia on Ukraine.
“We need to carefully examine what occurred, the circumstances surrounding the incident, and who is responsible,” Oleshchuk wrote in his post.
This crash marks the first reported loss of an F-16 in Ukraine, which received the jets at the end of last month. It is believed that at least six of these warplanes have been supplied by European nations.
Military analysts suggest that these planes will not dramatically shift the war’s dynamics, given Russia’s large air force and advanced air defense systems. However, Ukrainian officials have welcomed the arrival of the supersonic jets, which can carry modern NATO weapons, as they offer a chance to counter Russia’s air superiority.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military is making slow but steady advances in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions in the Kursk border region of western Russia following a recent incursion.
Oleshchuk criticized a Ukrainian lawmaker, who is the deputy head of the parliament’s defense committee, for claiming that the F-16 was accidentally downed by a Patriot air defense system. Ukraine has received an unspecified number of these U.S.-made systems.
Mariana Bezuhla cited unnamed sources for her claim and called for accountability for those responsible for the error.
Oleshchuk accused Bezuhla of defaming the air force and discrediting U.S. arms manufacturers, expressing hope that she would face legal repercussions for her statements.
The air force did not explicitly deny that the F-16 might have been struck by a Patriot missile.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that losses of Western-supplied military equipment are to be expected in the conflict. However, the Washington-based think tank emphasized that “any loss of Ukraine’s already limited supply of Western-provided F-16s and trained pilots will significantly affect Ukraine’s ability to use F-16s effectively in the near future, whether for combined air defense or air-to-ground support roles.”
Overnight, Russia launched 18 Shahed drones and one ballistic missile at Ukraine, according to the air force. Twelve drones were destroyed, and four others went down before reaching their targets.
The attack resulted in the death of a woman and ignited a fire in Sumy, the regional capital near Russia’s Kursk region, according to the regional administration.
