Ukraine-Russia war – live: Kyiv to receive dozens of F-16 fighter jets as Moscow drone attack disrupts flights

The Netherlands and Denmark will supply dozens of F-16s to Ukraine as they pledged “unwavering support” in a landmark announcement yesterday. While Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would receive 42 jets in total, the two donor countries did not specify numbers in a joint statement confirming the deliveries. Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen said 19 jets will “hopefully” be sent to Kyiv, of which six will arrive around the new year, eight more next year and the remaining five will be sent in 2025 as he asked Ukraine to “please take this donation as a token of Denmark’s unwavering support for your country’s fight for freedom”. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands has 42 of the jets, but said some will be needed for training purposes. Ukraine has been asking its allies for advanced fighter jets since the very beginning of Russia’s invasion, but its Western allies have been reluctant to provide military donations that could be used to strike deep inside Moscow’s territory. It comes as nearly 50 flights to and from Moscow were disrupted after Russia said it foiled attacks by two Ukrainian drones in the city. Read More ‘Wagner is victim of its own brand name’: How much of a threat does mercenary group pose in Belarus? Zelenskyy visits NATO candidate Sweden for 1st time since full-scale war with Russia Ukraine war troop deaths and wounded nearing 500,000, say US officials