A top U.S. military official has confirmed that a Ukrainian F-16 fighter achieved its first confirmed air-to-air victory against a Russian combat aircraft. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told U.S. lawmakers that a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter during combat operations, though he did not identify the aircraft or reveal operational details. His remarks reinforce earlier reports that a Russian Su-35S was downed on July 8, with Ukraine claiming the kill and Russia saying the pilot ejected safely. The milestone highlights Ukraine's growing ability to employ Western-supplied F-16s in air combat, even as analysts say Russia still retains an overall advantage in the skies.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet has recently shot down a Russian fighter jet in air-to-air combat for the…

F-16 ЗСУ здійснив перший успішний повітряний бій, знищивши російський винищувач — США.