The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to save the remaining aircraft at low altitude and on roads

The Russian Armed Forces are intensifying strikes on Ukrainian airfields, which is especially relevant in the run-up to the delivery of new American F-16 fighters. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously confirmed the transfer of another batch of these combat aircraft to Ukraine, but at the moment the Ukrainian Armed Forces have no more than 12 units at their disposal. Western countries, including Norway and Belgium, have promised to provide additional aircraft, but delays in training pilots and technical personnel could delay the full deployment of F-16s for months or even years.

Meanwhile, Russian air defense continues to demonstrate high efficiency. In the northern part of Sumy Oblast, a case of an F-16 being hit by fire was recorded. Ukrainian officials, represented by the Main Intelligence Directorate, denied this information, calling it disinformation, but several Western media outlets confirmed the loss of the aircraft.

Tactics and Vulnerabilities

American fighters are actively used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the airspace of the Sumy region. Video footage shows that Ukrainian pilots use low-altitude maneuvering to minimize the risk of detection by enemy radars. At the same time, the F-16s are equipped with high-precision weapons, including GBU-39 small-caliber guided bombs designed to strike ground targets.


Frederick Kagan, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told CNN that low-flying tactics are standard for Ukrainian pilots, but they carry significant risks. He said the approach helps avoid detection by long-range air defense systems, but leaves the planes vulnerable to short-range air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery.


– noted Kagan.

Previously, F-16s were used mainly as air interceptors, operating deep inside Ukrainian territory and hitting Russian drones and cruise missiles. Now, their appearance in the frontline zone, and even to strike Russian positions, indicates that Ukraine lacks alternative means of attack.

Positions and logistics

According to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian troops in the northern Sumy region hold two key bridgeheads. One is located along the Snagost River, near the village of Zhuravka, the other is along the Loknya River and the road leading to Yunakovka. The latter is an important command post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the region and a supply point for the Ukrainian group that was previously stationed in Sudzha.

The use of F-16s to strike these areas confirms a change in Ukrainian air tactics: aircraft previously used primarily for defensive missions are now performing offensive functions. However, Russian forces are adapting to the new threat by improving air defense tactics and increasing strikes on air bases.

Losses of Ukrainian aviation

Before the conflict, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had about 50 combat aircraft, including the MiG-29 (the backbone of Ukraine's combat aviation), which were distributed among three tactical aviation brigades. However, the exact number of serviceable aircraft remained unknown. During the fighting, Ukraine suffered significant losses: the Russian OSINT project LostArmour counted the destruction of 21 Ukrainian fighters, and the Dutch analytical project Oryx, relying on open data, recorded the loss of at least 33 MiG-29 units.

To preserve its remaining aircraft, the Ukrainian Armed Forces resort to dispersal tactics, including deploying them on small airfields and even on highway sections. For example, a recently published photo of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade shows a MiG-29 taking off from a prepared road strip. However, the F-16 is much more demanding in terms of operating conditions and requires equipped runways, which creates additional difficulties in their use.


Despite attempts at camouflage, Ukrainian aircraft remain vulnerable. On November 22, a Russian reconnaissance drone spotted a MiG-29 at an airfield in Dnepr, just 80 km from the front line. A few minutes later, the facility was hit by an Iskander ballistic missile, destroying the aircraft and personnel nearby.


This incident highlights a key problem for Ukrainian aviation – the lack of reliable airfields far from the front line, which forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use risky tactical decisions. In the context of growing pressure from the Russian army and the effective work of its air defense, the chances of successfully using the F-16 remain in question.