Zelenskyy in Netherlands to push for F-16s – DW – 08/20/2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky traveled to the Netherlands for talks with outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

They will discuss the proposed transfer of US-manufactured F-16s from the Netherlands to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader wrote on social media that the fighter jets were needed “to protect our people from Russian terror.”

The meeting at a military air base in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven comes a day after Zelenskyy’s visit to Sweden.

He and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson talked about the potential of Ukraine acquiring Swedish Gripen jets to strengthen its air defense capabilities.

On Friday, Denmark and the Netherlands announced that the United States had given clearance for F-16 fighter jets to be exported to Ukraine after Ukrainian pilots receive proper training

Russia said there had been drone attacks on three separate regions on its territory.

The governor of the southern region of Rostov, which borders Ukraine, said that Russian air defense intercepted two drones.

A drone strike in the Kursk region was reported earlier on Sunday. The attack reportedly resulted in a fire at a railway station and five injuries, according to the governor.

Russia’s aviation watchdog also now confirmed it paused flight operations at Moscow’s Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports in response to a drone. 

Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had jammed the drone in the capital city, forcing it to crash in an unpopulated area. 

Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence said in its regular intelligence update that the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) was highly likely “under intense pressure to improve air defenses over western Russia.”

“Strikes deep inside Russia are strategically important because President [Vladimir] Putin almost certainly invaded Ukraine on the assumption that it would have little direct effect on Russians,” the ministry said in its latest intelligence briefing.

Russia has accused Ukraine of launching drone strikes on its territory recently.

The British intelligence report noted that uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones, are regularly hitting the capital Moscow. There have also been more reports of missiles striking Russia.

Moscow airports Vnukovo and Domodedovo temporarily suspended flight operations overnight. 

The Russian Defense Ministry said it jammed a drone flying to Moscow overnight and crashed. In a Telegram post, Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, seemed to confirm that there had been an attempt to fly a drone towards the Russian capital. 

Authorities did not directly link the airport shutdowns to the reported drone attack. 

Moscow has repeatedly restricted air traffic recently because of drone attacks. 

Officials have attributed the attacks to Ukraine. 

A Ukrainian drone hit a target in the Russian city of Kursk early on Sunday, a regional governor claims.

“According to preliminary information, it crashed into the roof of the railway station building, after which a fire broke out on the roof,” Kursk Governor Roman Starovoyt said on Telegram.

He said five people were slightly injured by glass fragments.

Kursk is around 90 kilometers (50 miles) from Russia’s border with Ukraine.

Kyiv rarely claims responsibility for attacks on Russian soil.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the “extremely vile” Russian missile attack on Chernihiv in his evening address on Saturday.

The attack killed seven people and wounded 144 others.

“Among them is a girl, her name was Sofia, she was six years old,” he said.

He also noted that Saturday was the Feast of the Transfiguration, an Orthodox holiday.

“I am sure: our soldiers will respond to Russia for this terrorist attack,” Zelenskyy said. “Respond tangibly.”

Training for Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets is already underway, officials reiterated on Saturday.

“Training has already started,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told the Ukrainian TV channel 24 Kanal, without specifying a location.

He said the pilots would receive a minimum of six months’ training, but he could not say how long it would take to train engineers and mechanics.

“Therefore, to build reasonable expectations, set a minimum of six months in your mind, but do not be disappointed if it is longer,” he said.

The training also includes technical language, because most pilots’ basic understanding of English would be insufficient to operate the jets.

The American-made jets are to be delivered by Denmark and the Netherlands, and on Thursday Washington greenlit deliveries to take place as soon as pilot training is complete.

zc/wd (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)