Ukrainian F-16 Shoots Down Russian Su-34 Jet As It Dropped Glide Bombs

Ukraine's growing fleet of F-16s was reported to have scored its first kill Saturday, shooting down a Russian Su-34 as it was dropping glide bombs 0ver Ukrainian territory.

Enhancing air defense in this manner is exactly what the F-16s were acquired by Ukraine to do. JL

Brendan Cole reports in Newsweek:

One of Moscow's Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jets has been downed by a Western-supplied F-16. "Our Su-34 has been shot down and the crew was killed, apparently by an F-16, which was over Ukrainian-controlled territory." The plane had been shot down during an a drop of FAB glide bombs with unified planning and correction modules (UMPC) at a distance of about 50 kilometers from the frontline (30 miles). Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark are among a coalition of countries which have pledged more than 85 F-16 jets to Kyiv to provide a better air power to Ukraine than the Soviet-era aircraft it has relied on.

One of Moscow's fighter jets has been shot down by Ukrainian forces, according to a military blogger with links to the Russian air force. Another pro-Moscow milblogger said that the Sukhoi Su-34 aircraft had been downed by a Western-supplied F-16.Neither report has been confirmed and Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries for comment over the unverified claims which have sparked much speculation on social media.

The Telegram channel Fighterbomber posted on Saturday a message which looked like a tribute to a lost Su-34 fighter jet. Next to an image of the supersonic medium-range fighter bomber, which has been a mainstay of Russia's aviation efforts in the war,The pro-Moscow Telegram channel VDV for Honesty and Justice shared the post, adding more detail.

"Urgent!!! Our Su-34 has been shot down. The crew was killed," it said, adding that the aircraft "was apparently shot down by an F-16, which was over enemy-controlled territory."

It also said that the plane had been shot down during an air bomb drop "approximately 50 km (30 miles) from the front line," without giving details of where it had got the information

 

"Soon there will be more such losses. NATO has sent F-16s out to hunt," it added, "as a result, our infantry losses will increase."

 

Ukraine said it had received its first tranche of the U.S.-made fourth-generation jets in August following President Joe Biden finally allowing their provision via third countries.

 

Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark are among a coalition of countries which have pledged more than 85 F-16 jets to Kyiv which are hoped to provide a better air power to Ukraine than the Soviet-era aircraft it has relied on.

Pro-Ukrainian social media users were quick to cite the claims that both a Russian fighter jet had been downed and that a U.S.-made jet supplied to Ukraine may have been involved.