Did Ukraine Lose More F-16 Fighter Jets in Thursday’s Missile Attack?
Damion Davis
Several pro-Russian media outlets have circulated unconfirmed reports that Ukraine lost multiple F-16 fighter jets following a missile strike on the airfield where they were stationed. These reports claim the aircraft were hit by Russian Kinzhal high-velocity missiles.
According to the pro-Russian “Vzglyad” news site, at least two Ukrainian F-16 jets were struck by Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles launched from Russian MiG-31K aircraft during a large-scale missile and drone attack in the early hours of September 26.
The reports cite Anatoly Shariy, a Ukrainian milblogger, who suggested on his Telegram channel that as many as four F-16s were damaged or destroyed on the ground at the Starokostyantyniv airfield in western Ukraine.
Shariy noted he was still trying to verify the information, and as of Saturday, no official comments had been made by either Ukrainian or Russian sources.
Within hours, the story spread across Russian and some European media outlets. The Russian state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta described the event as “an ambush” on two F-16 jets while attempting to take off, carried out by Russian MiG-31K interceptors. This narrative was also echoed by the military news site BulgarianMilitary.com.
According to the Russian website Top War, an air alert was issued throughout Ukraine at approximately 10:00 a.m. Moscow time, triggered by the takeoff of four Russian MiG-31K jets armed with Kinzhals. The site claimed that after the missiles hit the Starokostyantyniv airfield, a large fire and a column of smoke were visible for several kilometers. However, it was unclear what exactly was burning.
Despite these claims, the Russian Ministry of Defense’s official report for September 26 did not mention any such incident. Meanwhile, the pro-Russian Voenno Delo Telegram channel suggested that the F-16s, recently donated by the Netherlands, were struck while in hardened shelters after delays in preparing for takeoff. The channel also mentioned the presence of Ukrainian Su-24 tactical bombers at the airbase.
Unconfirmed Losses
Ukraine’s first confirmed loss of an F-16 occurred on August 26, when a fighter jet piloted by Alexei Mes crashed. The Ukrainian General Staff acknowledged the loss without specifying the cause, and no other F-16 losses have been officially confirmed.
A milblogger with connections to the Russian Aerospace Forces, known as Fighterbomber, vaguely referenced the September 26 incident by sharing a message reportedly from the wife of a U.S. military advisor. The message expressed grief over her husband’s death, allegedly in Ukraine, while criticizing the involvement of foreign instructors in the war.
Ukraine Denies the Reports
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) categorically denied the Russian claims, labeling them “fake.” In a statement on its Telegram channel, the CCD said the reports attempted to manipulate public opinion by promoting the narrative of Western aircraft being inefficient in the conflict. The center also pointed out that Russian propaganda had spread rumors of F-16 losses even before the jets were delivered to Ukraine.
The Starokostyantyniv airfield has been a key base for Ukrainian tactical bombers since the war began and has faced several prior attacks, including significant strikes in June and July using Kh-101 cruise missiles and Shahed drones. In these previous attacks, Russian claims of destroyed aircraft were denied by Ukrainian authorities, who have neither confirmed nor denied whether F-16s are based at the airfield.
Strategic Context
The alleged attack occurred as the U.S. announced it would provide Ukraine with AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) glide bombs, which would significantly enhance the F-16’s strike capabilities. On the same day, the Royal Netherlands Air Force retired its last F-16 after 45 years of service, and refurbished F-16s are expected to be transferred to Ukraine as the Netherlands transitions to the F-35A.
At this time, Kyiv Post has been unable to independently verify the reports of the F-16 losses. As suggested by the CCD, the claims may be part of an ongoing disinformation campaign to undermine the confidence in Ukraine’s ability to protect the fighter jets.
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