US Air Force General Dan Caine: Ukrainian F-16 has shot down Russian aircraft in aerial combat for first time
In response, Dan Caine stressed that Ukraine has significantly increased its defense capabilities in recent years and greatly expanded its defense industry's capacity.
"Sir, I want to highlight that the incredible work the Ukrainian industrial base is doing is scaling its own capabilities. This ranges from their surface-to-air capabilities to air-to-air capabilities," he stressed.
As an example of the development of Ukraine's military capabilities, the general cited a recent aerial battle in which a Ukrainian F-16 destroyed a Russian fighter jet. According to him, this was the first such case.
The general also stressed that allied assistance has enabled Ukraine to strengthen its multilayered defense system and significantly increase its effectiveness.
"I think their ability to scale a layered defense has come along the way over the past couple of years with the help and assistance of many," the US military official said.
Background
It should be noted that the Defense Forces are constantly hunting Russian military aircraft. On July 21, it became known that Ukrainian forces had struck a Russian airfield in the Kursk region. As a result of the operation, they hit a MiG-29 fighter jet and a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile and gun system.
It should be noted that on July 17, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced new "long-range sanctions" against Russia — saying a Tu-95 aircraft and oil industry facilities had been hit. The target was struck 800 kilometers from Ukraine's state border. The Security Service of Ukraine wrote that the bomber's tail section had been completely torn off.
As Rubryka previously reported, special forces of the Omega Special Purpose Center of the National Guard of Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-24M bomber at the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea.
Moreover, Ukrainian intelligence confirmed the destruction of a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet at the Belbek airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea. Operators of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine's unmanned systems struck the aircraft and an airfield launcher.
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22 of July 2026
