Flanked by another two of the U.S.-made combat aircraft, Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that the country's air force had already started operations using the warplanes against Russia. A number of Ukraine's European allies have pledged to send F-16s to Ukraine, and the first batch arrived in the country in late July. Russia has dismissed the supply of F-16s, with Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying last Thursday that Russian forces were prepared to shoot down the F-16 jets. The first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon received by Ukraine is seen on the Day of Ukrainian Air Force on August 4, 2024 in Unspecified, Ukraine. "The jets will considerably enhance Ukraine's ability to prevent Russian pilots entering Ukrainian air space, and can also target Russian cruise missiles in flight.

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Persons: Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Ukraine's, Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Vitalii, Antony Blinken, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Mykola Bielieskov, Bielieskov Organizations: Falcons, Dynamics, Anadolu, Getty, Ukraine's Air Forces, Ukrainian, Ukrainian Air Force, Anadolu Agency, NATO, Defense, National Institute for Strategic Studies, Fighting Falcons, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, States, USSR, Kyiv, Ukrainian