Russia views F-16 fighters and all their airfields as legitimate targets. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands Vladimir Tarabrin, commenting on the permission of the government of this country to export aircraft to Kyiv.
The Russian diplomat emphasized, that Moscow regards the Netherlands’ decision to supply fighter jets to Ukraine as another step towards escalating the conflict, which leads to further destabilization of the international situation. Tarabrin also warned, that all aircraft delivered to Kyiv and their airfields are a legitimate target for Russian troops.
In this regard, I would like to note, that fighter jets supplied to Ukraine, as well as airfields, from which they take off, are considered by the Russian side as a legitimate target during a special military operation, the diplomat said.
Earlier, the State Duma warned Western countries, that the stationing of F-16 fighters transferred to Kyiv at airfields outside of Ukraine makes them a legitimate target for Russian missiles, if the planes take part in combat missions. Prior to this, the North Atlantic Alliance warned about the inadmissibility of deploying Ukrainian fighters on the territory of NATO countries.
Recall, that the Netherlands today approved the transfer to Ukraine 24 F-16 fighters from the Royal Air Force. The first planes should arrive in Ukraine “in the near future”, most likely, the end of summer.
