The delivery of US–made F–16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which is expected to take place “in the near future,” will “deprive Russia of its air superiority over the Black Sea”.
This was stated by Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa in an interview with Reuters, Radiosvoboda reports.
F–16s with appropriate weapons will be able to push back Russian military aircraft. The northwestern part of the Black Sea, especially the corridor for civilian ships, will be almost 100% protected, – he said.
Oleksiy Neizhpapa said that “taking into account the attacks and strikes by maritime drones, Russian warships do not enter the northwestern part of the Black Sea, an area of almost 25,000 square kilometers”.
He added that “Ukraine would like to expand its shipping corridor, which covers only shipping from the three main Odesa ports, to include the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson, but this is not possible”. The Ukrainian Navy commander referred to Russia’s control of the Kinburn Spit, which runs along this route.
According to him, “in some areas, civilian vessels are escorted by patrol boats to help provide mine protection, and air defense systems provide cover for both ports and corridors”.
According to The New York Times, Ukraine may receive only six of the approximately 45 F–16 fighter jets promised by Western countries by July. There are also expectations that 12 pilots will be ready by this summer, but this is less than a full squadron.
