Dutch officials: Ukraine can use supplied F-16s for strikes on Russia.

On August 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the arrival of the first F-16 aircraft in Ukraine, which was presented at a secret airfield. Prior to this, Western media reported that six fighter jets had arrived from the Netherlands, and several more were expected from Denmark soon. Since August 6, Ukraine has attempted a breakthrough in the Kursk region on Russian territory, and has requested the possibility of using the newly arrived Western fighters to conduct deep strikes and ensure an advancement that is currently halted of its forces.
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Dutch F-16 above afghanistan (Picture source: Dutch MoD)

In response to this situation, the Netherlands, through General Onno Eichelsheim of the Royal Dutch Air Force, announced that Ukraine could use the F-16 fighter jets provided by his country for strikes on Russian territory. General Eichelsheim stated that the Netherlands has not imposed any restrictions on the use or range of the F-16s, and that Ukraine can use the resources provided by the Netherlands as it wishes, provided that it respects the laws of war. In total, the Netherlands has promised to provide Ukraine with 24 F-16 aircraft. It is not specified how many of them are already deployed in the country.

As it is known, the F-16 fighter jets are provided to Ukraine by Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway.

The missions of the F-16 in Ukraine are multiple, but the F-16s should represent a valuable aid for the Ukrainian army, which will be able to use them to improve their anti-aircraft defense, intercept missiles, stop the very deadly gliding bombs dropped by the Russian army, or even carry out counter-offensives by striking Russian positions behind enemy lines. The F-16s are touted for their precision, speed, and autonomy. They can also be particularly agile during aerial combat. However, it is necessary to specify that this gain in efficiency will entirely depend on the armaments that will be made available to the Ukrainian army and that will take place under the wings of the F-16s.

Even with these authorizations for deep strikes, the F-16s will help their air defense, but this will not be a miracle solution, for the simple and good reason that the F-16s will not be numerous enough. In mid-May, the Ukrainian president judged that his country needed 120 to 130 F-16s to end Russian domination in the air. Western promises total less than 100, moreover with deliveries spread over time.

The Dutch general also commented on Ukraine's advancement in the Kursk oblast in Russia, describing the operation of the Ukrainian forces as "brilliant in practical terms." They quickly occupied a large area positively, using new technologies. In doing so, they have created a dilemma for Putin; we have seen that this dilemma is not really one, Russia has chosen to contain the Ukrainian forces at Kursk and to go on the offensive in areas considered by the Kremlin as belonging to Russia.