Russia tries to target Ukrainian pilots preparing to train on F-16, Air Force says

Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Air Force of Ukraine, shared the information on the United News telethon, according to Espreso TV

"This is another attack by terrorists with Kh-47 missiles, as the Air Force commander said, "unparalleled" because they strike, as the Russians say, "right on target." A child was killed, one of the missiles hit a residential area. Those missiles were aimed at military airfields, which have been in the enemy's sights for months. And the Starokostiantyniv airfield (Khmelnytsky region - ed.) is currently experiencing the consequences of the Russian occupiers' strikes the most. This time, the Ivano-Frankivsk region is in the crosshairs, our youth, our young pilots, who are about to go to training. Young pilots will be trained under a different program, and we know that both the UK and other countries will train them for a new type of aircraft, Western equipment, for the F-16, first of all," Ihnat said. 

According to him, Russia thus wanted to deprive Ukraine of the prospect of further rearmament with the latest and most advanced Western models of equipment.

"These attacks do not bring them success, 4 KH-47 Kinzhal missiles have been used up," noted the spokesman.

He also added that one missile was shot down over the Kyiv region, but all the Kinzhal missiles were headed for the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

• On Friday, August 11, during an air raid alert, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with missiles. Explosions were heard, in particular, in the Khmelnytsky region. Air defense systems were operating there.

• In addition, in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, a Russian missile hit a private house where a family with three children lived. An 8-year-old boy died as a result of the attack.