F-16 fighters and anti-aircraft drones: how Kyiv repels enemy attacks

Ukrainian aviation, including F-16s, and the latest technological solutions played a significant role in repelling massive attacks on Kyiv, as did helicopters and electronic warfare units. At the same time, the enemy often used drone simulators to exhaust Ukrainian defenses.

Yuriy Ignat, head of the communications department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported on “Pryamoye” that F-16 aircraft were involved in the shooting down of air targets.

According to him, Western fighters have helped significantly strengthen defense capabilities in the fight against Russian cruise missiles. “Aviation, helicopters of the army aviation, air force, as well as aircraft such as the F-16, which also made a significant contribution today to shooting down enemy cruise missiles,” Ignat noted.

In addition to traditional aviation, the Ukrainian defense forces actively used anti-aircraft interceptor drones, which destroyed dozens of enemy targets. This approach allows for rational use of air defense resources. Helicopters and electronic warfare units also operated in the sky, which provided comprehensive protection against air, ground, and sea-based missiles.

At the same time, residents of the capital often observe situations when the air alert lasts for a long time due to the presence of one or more drones in the air. A spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine explained that the difficulty of destroying such targets is due to their low visibility and low flight altitude. The enemy often uses drone-mimics to exhaust Ukrainian defenses.

“We need to work as rationally as possible for these purposes, for those like martyrs, for those like scouts, using those means that can be worked out most effectively in that place, at that time,” Yuriy Ignat emphasized.

He noted that the process of choosing a means of destruction depends on the safety of people on the ground and weather conditions. When helicopters are operating in the sky, ground-based anti-aircraft systems cannot fire simultaneously. Each type of threat at a certain altitude requires its own approach: low targets are dealt with by mobile fire groups, and higher ones by interceptor drones or aviation.

As a reminder, on the night of December 28, Russian troops launched another attack on Ukraine using strike drones. The air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

In addition, on the night of December 27, Russian troops launcheda large-scale attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region . As a result of the shelling, destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure was recorded, and there were casualties. According to updated data, the number of wounded in the capital has increased to 11 people, including a 16-year-old child.

In total, the enemy launched 40 missiles and 519 drones of various types, including about 300 “Shaheeds”. Air defense forces were able to destroy or suppress 503 air targets . In particular, 474 drones, six ballistic and aeroballistic missiles “Iskander-M” and “Kinzhal”, four cruise missiles “Iskander-K” or “Caliber”, as well as 19 Kh-101 missiles were neutralized.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram.