- Hopes that modern fighter jets would bolster Ukraine’s grinding counteroffensive appear to be fading, with an official saying there’s no chance of them being used this autumn and winter
Modern F-16 fighter jets won’t form part of Ukraine’s counteroffensive before the end of the year, according to an official.
Yuriy Ihnat, a Spokesperson for the country’s Air Force, told Ukrainian television that “it’s already obvious we won’t be able to defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets during this autumn and winter.”
Kyiv and President Zelenskyy have long called on Western allies to supply the country with the US-made jets to bolster its military operations.
But a decision on the supply of the planes has yet to be made.
“We had big hopes for this plane, that it will become part of air defence, able to protect us from Russia’s missiles and drones terrorism,” Mr Ihnat said.
This comes as the Wagner PMC Group has been registered as a Limited Liability Company engaged in “educational activities” in Belarus, according to reports.
The main activity of the group has been categorised as “other types of education” in the State register of legal entities, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
The address given is a field camp in Tsel where mercenaries arrived from Russia and where a company belonging to Yevgeny Prigozhin is registered.
Mr Prigozhin’s company is named Concord Management and Consulting, the news site said.
Wagner mercenaries relocated to Belarus following an abortive coup to topple Russia’s military elite in June.
The level of presence they maintain in the country – and whether it will continue – has been the subject of conflicting reports.
It remains unclear whether the paramilitary group intends to stay in Belarus, return to Russia, or has been fragmented between the two countries and the African continent.
With agency reports