Ukraine has flown its first combat missions with an F-16 after the American-made fighter jets’ long-awaited arrival.
The Telegraph understands the modern warplanes have only been used in an “air defence” capacity so far.
A Ukrainian air force official did not deny this.
A report by the Bloomberg news wire first revealed that a small, but unspecified, number of F-16s had been delivered to Kyiv.
Soon after, a pixelated picture purporting to be an F-16 in the skies above Ukraine was shared on social media and by Ukrainian media outlets.
Kyiv has not officially confirmed receipt of the jets.
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Russian forces conducted a large series of drone strikes against Ukraine overnight on July 30 to 31. The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that Russian forces launched one Kh-59 cruise missile from occupied Kherson Oblast and 89 Shahed-136/131 drones from the Yeysk, Seshcha, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk directions, and that Ukrainian forces downed all 89 drones and the Kh-59 missile.[58] The Ukrainian Air Force Command noted that this is one of the largest Russian Shahed strikes against Ukraine since January 1, when Russian forces launched the same number of Shaheds at Ukraine. Kyiv City officials reported that Ukrainian forces downed roughly 36 Shaheds over Kyiv City alone and that falling debris damaged residential areas.[59]
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Ukrainian forces struck a weapons and equipment warehouse in Kursk City on the night of July 30 to 31. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck a warehouse in Kursk City and that Ukrainian forces are conducting a battle damage assessment.[15] Acting Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov claimed that Ukrainian forces struck an unspecified facility in Kursk Oblast and caused the facility to catch fire.[16] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and other Russian sources claimed that Russian air defenses destroyed an unspecified number of Ukrainian drones and missiles, including at least one Neptune anti-ship missile, over Kursk Oblast.[17] Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Spokesperson Andriy Yusov told Radio Svoboda on July 31 that recent "explosion[s]" at the Olenya Airfield in Murmask Oblast damaged the frames of two Tu-22M3 bombers.[18] Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted a successful drone strike against the airfield on the night of July 26 to 27.[19]
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Ukraine: Situation on the front line according to DeepState Live Map as of 11:54 PM EET July 31, 2024
- Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Israel conducted an airstrike killing Hamas Political Bureau Chairperson Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran to derail attempts to establish peace in the Middle East.
- The Russian State Duma revised some aspects of a recent bill criminalizing Russian soldiers' use of personal devices on the battlefield following outcry in the Russian ultranationalist community.
- Russian officials may be taking steps to address domestic security issues following the March 2024 Crocus City Hall terrorist attack and June 2024 shootings in the Republic of Dagestan.
- Ukrainian forces struck a weapons and equipment warehouse in Kursk City on the night of July 30 to 31.
- Russian border guards withdrew from Armenia’s main international airport.
- Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk, Svatove, Chasiv Yar, Torestsk, and Donetsk City and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on July 31 increasing financial incentives for signing a Russian military service contract, likely to support ongoing crypto-mobilization efforts.
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Fighting continued north and northeast of Kharkiv City on July 31, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline. ...The Ukrainian Kharkiv Group of Forces reported that Russian forces have deployed elements of the 1st Assault Company of the 83rd Airborne (VDV) Brigade to frontline positions near Tykhe and are transferring elements of the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 44th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) from an unspecified area in occupied Luhansk Oblast to the Starytsya area.[28] Elements of the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet), including its "Tigr" Battalion, reportedly continue to operate near Lyptsi.[29]
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Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Kupyansk and southwest of Svatove amid continued Russian assaults along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on July 31. Geolocated footage published on July 31 indicates that Russian forces advanced southeast of Synkivka (northeast of Kupyansk).[30] Additional geolocated footage published on July 31 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced south of Novoyehorivka (southwest of Svatove).[31
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Russian forces continued offensive operations east of Siversk near Verkhnokamyanske, southeast of Siversk near Vyimka and Ivano-Darivka, and south of Siversk near Pereizne on July 30 and 31, but there were no confirmed advances in the area.[34] Elements of the Russian 2nd Artillery Brigade (2nd Luhansk People's Republic [LNR] Army Corps [AC]) are reportedly operating in the Siversk direction, and elements of the 106th Airborne (VDV) Division are reportedly operating near Pereizne.[35]
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