Ukraine says training of F-16 personnel continues

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday said that the training of its personnel on F-16 fighter jets is still ongoing.

“Currently, other groups of pilots within the framework of language and basic flight training continue their training in Great Britain,” First Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavliuk wrote on Telegram.

Pavliuk further said that flight personnel, engineers and aircraft technicians are also being trained.

The minister said the first group of pilots completed basic training as part of the international air force coalition last December, after which they went to Denmark to train directly on F-16 fighter jets.

In October 2023, Denmark announced that it would co-lead an international air force coalition, together with the Netherlands and the US, to support Ukraine in “creating a complete F-16 fighter aircraft capacity."

The announcement came after the Netherlands and Denmark committed to give F-16 jets to Ukraine in August 2023.