(KYIV, UKRAINE) – A new international F 16 fighter jet squadron staffed by Ukrainian, American and Dutch pilots has been assembled in Ukraine, according to Intelligence Online. The unit was formed in recent weeks by the Ukrainian Air Force and is ready for immediate deployment.
The Western pilots are working under temporary contracts and are assisting Ukrainian crews in mastering the aircraft’s technical advantages. The squadron is playing a central role in the air defence of Kyiv Oblast, which Russia continues to attack with drones and missiles.
Intelligence Online reports that the unit includes American pilots who carried out numerous combat missions in Afghanistan, as well as a Western veteran with operational experience in the Middle East. Among the Dutch personnel are graduates of leading European air combat schools known for advanced training in interception and modern aerial warfare.
Unlike Ukrainian pilots, who operate within the conventional chain of command, the Western veterans serve under renewable six month contracts structured similarly to specialised contractors. These arrangements allow for rotation in line with operational needs.
Pilots from the international F 16 unit regularly patrol during overnight Russian attacks to ensure rapid response to aerial threats and to maximise radar coverage. Intelligence Online states that their most significant contribution lies in experience with high precision sensors, including the Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pod. The electro optical and infrared system enables long range identification and tracking of fast moving targets and supports strikes in adverse weather.
Sources close to the Ukrainian General Staff say Ukrainian crews had partial familiarity with such systems but lacked years of training on Western platforms. The international squadron is now helping repel near daily Russian aerial attacks, including interceptions of Kalibr missiles, Kh 101 cruise missiles and Shahed and Geran drones.
Footage released separately shows a Ukrainian F 16AM fighter assigned to the 107th Aviation Wing intercepting and destroying a Russian launched Shahed drone over Ukraine. The video captures the aircraft manoeuvring into firing position before neutralising the slow moving target in mid air.
The interception underlines the expanding role of Western supplied fighter aircraft within Ukraine’s layered air defence network. Ground based systems remain the backbone of protection against missile and drone strikes, but fighter jets provide mobility and rapid response across contested airspace.
Shahed drones, widely used by Russian forces to strike infrastructure and urban centres, present a persistent challenge due to low cost production and the ability to launch in swarms. Air to air interceptions reduce the burden on expensive surface to air missile systems.
Separate battlefield footage highlights Ukraine’s use of unmanned ground systems. A remotely operated vehicle armed with a Browning M2 heavy machine gun was shown engaging a Russian soldier at close range. The video is attributed to the 411th Separate UAV Battalion, known as the Hawks, a unit specialising in drone and unmanned operations. The system allowed operators to engage without direct exposure to danger.
At the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Politico issued symbolic awards, naming European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for what it described as the worst poker face. She was seen reacting visibly as United States ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz praised Washington’s role in ending several wars. The moment circulated widely online.
In a separate development, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle operator identified as Myuslav Simov from the Rubicon unit reportedly defected to Ukraine. He said he crossed over after deployment near Kupiansk, alleging he witnessed orders to execute prisoners and the killing of civilians. He described fear as the primary motivation within the Russian ranks and stated he would not continue fighting for Russia.
Meanwhile, investment fund Noble Capital RSD has filed a lawsuit in a United States federal court against the Russian Federation, its Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank and the National Wealth Fund. The claim seeks 225 billion US dollars in relation to debt obligations of the Russian Empire.
At the current exchange rate, the claim equals approximately 17.5 trillion roubles, equivalent to about 225 billion US dollars. The sum represents roughly 43 percent of Russia’s annual federal budget of 40.2 trillion roubles, around 517 billion US dollars. It also exceeds the combined market value of Sberbank at 6.5 trillion roubles, Gazprom at 2.9 trillion roubles and Rosneft at 4.2 trillion roubles, together worth approximately 13.6 trillion roubles, or about 175 billion US dollars.
Ukrainian officials say air defence operations continue daily.
