Ukraine Lands F-16s On Highway; Reports Says Threat Of Russian Strikes Makes Kyiv Modify Its Plans

In a strategic move to mitigate the threat of Russian airstrikes, the Ukrainian military has adapted sections of its highways to function as makeshift airstrips for F-16 fighter jets, according to a report by the French television channel LCI. 

The report, accompanied by video footage, highlights Ukraine’s efforts to adapt its infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. By using highways instead of traditional airbases, Ukraine aims to reduce the chances of Russian strikes on its valuable aircraft. 

LCI detailed that specific stretches of road, typically used by civilian vehicles, have been modified to accommodate military aircraft. 

Former military pilot Xavier Titelman explained that these modifications included the removal of center dividers and the restoration of asphalt to ensure a smooth surface suitable for aircraft takeoffs and landings. 

Titelman added that this adaptation is crucial for minimizing the exposure of Ukrainian aircraft to Russian air defenses, which frequently target known military airbases. 

The move to use highways is not unprecedented; Retd. French General Michel Yakovleff noted that NATO has employed similar tactics in other countries facing aerial threats. 

However, he acknowledged that taking off from roads poses inherent risks compared to using airstrips specifically designed for aircraft. The use of highways may limit the operational efficiency of the aircraft and increase the risk of accidents. 

The news about the adaptation of highways coincides with a leadership shake-up in Ukraine’s air force. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently dismissed Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of Ukraine’s air force, following a controversy over the downing of one of the country’s newly acquired F-16 jets. 

The US-made aircraft, delivered as part of a Western aid package, went down earlier this week, resulting in the death of the pilot, Col. Oleksiy Mes. 

While Ukrainian officials indicated that the crash was not a direct result of an enemy strike, it has sparked debates over accountability and the effectiveness of the Air Force’s current strategy.

In a statement on Telegram, President Zelensky underscored the need for strengthened command and protection for Ukrainian personnel. 

“At the command level, we must strengthen ourselves and protect our people,” Zelensky stated, highlighting his rationale for replacing Lt. Gen. Oleshchuk with Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko, the former overseer of Ukraine’s central air command.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, President Zelensky has replaced several top military officials in a bid to optimize the country’s defense strategy and response. 

US Declines To Send Contractors To Ukraine for F-16 Upkeep 

The Biden administration has reportedly declined a proposal to send U.S. contractors to Ukraine to maintain Western-supplied military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets, due to security concerns. 

According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the White House National Security Council had considered deploying civilian contractors to Ukraine for the maintenance of F-16s and other military weapons. However, intelligence agencies and other bodies deemed the plan too risky.

Despite the decision, the U.S. hopes that European nations will assume more if not all, responsibility for maintaining the F-16s in Ukraine. A US official, speaking anonymously to the Wall Street Journal, stated that the intelligence community was concerned about the potential for Russia to target American contractors in Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal also noted that while the Biden administration has not ruled out the possibility of sending US contractors to Ukraine in the future, it does not foresee this happening in the near term.

The decision not to deploy US personnel for maintenance duties follows Ukraine’s loss of its first F-16 fighter jet provided by Western allies, an incident that has triggered significant debate within the country.

Ukrainian politician Mariana Bezuhla, a member of the parliamentary defense committee, claimed that the aircraft was downed by Ukraine’s own Patriot air defense system. 

In response, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, former commander of Ukraine’s air force, asserted that an investigation is underway and denied any cover-up. 

He accused Bezuhla of undermining military leadership and suggested that she would need to issue an apology once the facts were established.

Meanwhile, Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to the head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), stated that the downing of an American F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine represents a significant blow to the image of the US military-industrial complex. 

According to Kimakovsky, the incident casts doubt on the effectiveness of the aircraft’s “friend or foe” identification system. 

“If this occurred, it implies that the system failed. This is a blow, an image blow to the military-industrial complex of the United States of America. It also damages Ukraine’s reputation,” he remarked.

Kimakovsky expressed his belief that this incident is unlikely to be the last F-16 loss in Ukraine. He confidently predicted that more such fighter jets supplied by Western countries would be shot down. 

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