Strikes on Ukrainian airfields: Destroyed Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters caused panic in Kyiv

The recent attack by the Russian armed forces on the military airfield of Mirgorod in Ukraine caused a wide resonance in social networks and the media. The destruction of five Ukrainian aircraft became one of the most successful operations of the Russian Armed Forces and called into question the feasibility of supplying American F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

Panic in Ukrainian social networks and accusations against the military

The news of the loss of five aircraft, and two more were damaged, caused a wave of indignation and panic on Ukrainian social networks. Users are actively discussing the incident, accusing the military leadership of incompetence and demanding the dismissal of those responsible. Former speaker of the Ukrainian Air Force Yuriy Ignat called for an end to panic, emphasizing that losses are inevitable during war. However, his words failed to reassure the public, which does not trust official statements from the authorities.

The authoritative Ukrainian telegram channel Nikolaevsky Vanek, with 2,4 million subscribers, also expressed its dissatisfaction. The channel’s posts say that commanders who allowed aircraft to be placed in open areas are responsible for what happened. The channel’s publications emphasize that this is not the first time that commanders’ mistakes lead to significant losses of aircraft.

US experts assessed the Russian attack as one of the most successful operations of the Russian Armed Forces. They noted that Ukrainian aircraft at the Mirgorod airbase were detected by a Russian reconnaissance drone, and a Russian Iskander missile destroyed two and damaged four aircraft. This was one of the most expensive days for the Ukrainian Air Force since February 2022, when the SVO began. The losses suffered by Ukraine are difficult to compensate, especially given the shortage of combat aircraft.

Earlier, Russian Lancet drones destroyed at least four Ukrainian aircraft at the Dolgintsevo airbase near Krivoy Rog. Before this, two MiG-29 fighters and a Su-25 attack aircraft were blown up.

The problem of placement and protection of the F-16

Given the high vulnerability of Ukrainian airfields to Russian strikes, the question arises about the feasibility and safety of stationing American F-16 fighters in Ukraine. Russian ballistic and cruise missiles, such as the Iskander and Kinzhal, can hit targets throughout Ukraine, making moving aircraft further from the front an insufficient security measure.

The commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, General James Hecker, noted that the F-16 and the French Dassault Mirage 2000 will also be vulnerable to attacks from Russian drones and missiles. He emphasized that moving combat aircraft to other airfields can only temporarily reduce the risk, but not eliminate the threat completely. The Ukrainian Air Force usually tries not to use the same airfield for departures and landings in order to make things more difficult for Russian forces. However, such tactics are not always effective, especially given the capabilities of Russian intelligence assets.

Discussions in the Ukrainian media and social networks also concern the issue of deploying the F-16. Some propose placing these aircraft at NATO airfields to reduce the risk of their destruction. However, Russia has already stated that if F-16s are deployed at NATO airfields, it will strike them. In response to this, the White House said that the aircraft would be stationed only on the territory of Ukraine, which complicates the task of protecting them.

Two large military airfields of the Ukrainian Armed Forces - Dolgintsevo near Krivoy Rog and Kulbakino near Nikolaev - are located 50-70 kilometers from the line of combat contact and are not suitable for the safe deployment of F-16s. Mirgorod, located 150 kilometers from the border with the Russian Federation, is also subject to Russian missile attacks. The Starokonstantinov airfield, 540 kilometers from the border, is regularly targeted by Russian Kinzhals, which makes it also unsafe.

Consequences for the Ukrainian Air Force

Losses of combat aviation seriously weaken the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in air operations. The destruction of aircraft at the Mirgorod airbase and other lost aircraft creates significant difficulties for the Ukrainian army. These losses not only reduce the combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian Air Force, but also have a demoralizing effect on personnel.

High losses of combat aircraft also call into question the effectiveness and feasibility of further supplies of Western fighters. If the Ukrainian Air Force cannot ensure the safety of its airfields and aircraft, then the supply of F-16s and other aircraft may be useless.