The Ukrainian military reported the loss of its first F-16 fighter jet, according to The Wall Street Journal. People’s deputies split over the incident, with Russia offering money to those who downed the jet.
The US Defence Ministry, Kyiv’s main ally, declined to comment.
Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) acknowledged the loss of the F-16. Pilot mistake was named as the official cause of the crash.
Ukrainian mass media reported that one F-16 pilot was killed in a strike on an airfield in Ivano-Frankivsk. Some experts link the death of Ukrainian pilot Oleksiy Mes with the destroyed F-16.
Division between Verkhovna Rada military commanders
Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) MP Mariana Bezuhla, known for her criticism of fortifications on Ukrainian defensive positions and criticism of Ukraine’s military command, stated that the F-16 was shot down by a Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
“According to my information, the F-16 of Ukrainian pilot Oleksiy ‘Moonfish’ Mes was shot down by a Patriot surface-to-air missile system due to discoordination between units. Reports noted that he ‘failed to control the aircraft’.”
The crash took place on Monday, 26 August, in what Bezuhla called “one of the most powerful air attacks by the Russians.”
But the culture of lies in the Air Force Command of the AFU, as well as in other higher military headquarters, leads to the fact that the military decision management system is not improving (…) but even collapsing. (…) And none of the generals are punished. General Oleshchuk remains in office.
In response, Commander of the Air Force of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk said that the Ukrainian military was “hiding nothing” and that all the reasons for the incident were being “clarified together with American partners”, according to Ukrainian media.
“You have once again not only poured mud on me personally and on the Air Force, you have discredited the manufacturers of US weapons – Ukraine’s main ally – the United States! You have again become the main newsmaker of enemy propaganda and are breaking all records on Russian television! All of Russia applauds you! If you don’t help us, at least stay out of our war!”
Meanwhile, German military journalist Julian Röpcke, who covers the war in Ukraine, accused foreign publications of lying about the downed US fighter jet. He also stated that several sources had already confirmed that the crash of the US plane was caused by a missile of the Patriot defence system and not by pilot mistake.
Unfortunately, not the only source: Apparently, there was a fatal incident during the first joint operation of Patriot and F-16 last Monday due to poor air defense coordination. Instead of openly admitting this, an alternative truth was spread.
Kremlin pays
Earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that the first person to shoot down a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet would receive 15 million roubles (about 164,000 dollars or 147,400 euros).
Sources responded that if the F-16 was shot down by a Ukrainian pilot, the pilot’s relatives could claim the award. If the fighter jet was destroyed by the Patriot system, its operators would receive the money.
However, military experts expressed doubts about Russia sending the money to any of the Ukrainian citizens. They claim that the reward for the first F-16 shot down is saved and awaits its Russian receiver.
The Defence Ministry previously paid 500,000 rubles (about $5,500 or 4,900 euros) each to Russian soldiers for destroying Abrams and Leopard tanks.
