Ukraine loses third F‑16 amid escalating Russian tension

• Ukraine lost its third F-16 fighter jet during combat with Russia.
• The pilot successfully destroyed three targets before the failure.
• A commission is investigating the circumstances of the incident.
• Trilateral talks are set to occur.

Ukraine announced on Telegram the loss of another F-16 fighter jet. This is the third such incident, raising concerns about the country's air defense. During the mission, the pilot managed to destroy three air targets. Unfortunately, while preparing to engage a fourth target, an "extraordinary situation" occurred on board the aircraft.

Exhibiting calmness under pressure, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft away from populated areas and ejected. The pilot was quickly located and evacuated. His health is described as "satisfactory," and he is not in any danger.

Authorities have convened a commission to investigate the cause of the failure to prevent similar situations in the future.

The first F-16 fighter jets arrived in Ukraine in July 2024. The aircraft were supplied by Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with these countries committing to send 60 planes to support Ukraine. So far, Ukraine has lost three of these jets. In the first two incidents involving F-16s, two experienced Ukrainian pilots lost their lives.

On Friday in Istanbul, trilateral talks will take place involving Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia, as well as Turkey, the USA, and Ukraine. This information was provided by a source in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday evening.

Trilateral negotiations are anticipated between the USA, Ukraine, and Turkey, as well as between the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Turkey. It is uncertain whether a quadrilateral meeting (USA, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey) will occur.

The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while the Russian delegation will be headed by Vladimir Putin's advisor, Vladimir Medinsky.