Ukraine's expectations for F-16s, network equipment from Luxembourg and Denmark - Friday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest

• British intelligence names losses in Russian army over past two months
• Belarusian forces allegedly preparing provocations against Ukraine
• Russian missiles and drones contain foreign components from at least 19 countries

Ukraine to get six F-16 jets this summer, and up to 20 more by year end

Ukraine plans to receive six F-16 aircraft already this summer. By the end of the year, their number could increase to 20.

According to Bloomberg sources, Ukraine will likely be able to deploy a squadron of F-16s - from 15 to 24 aircraft. According to another source, Kyiv expects to receive six F-16s this summer and up to 20 by the end of the year.

At the same time, partner countries have had doubts about the advisability of sending aircraft to Ukraine and whether it is currently a very expensive show of support for the country.

"'People shouldn’t expect miracles' from the F-16s against Russia," said a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, Jim Townsend.

He believes that the airfields where these aircraft will be based will be "nice, juicy targets, and the Russians have already been hitting some of them, just as a welcome to the real world for these F-16s."

Ukraine receives network equipment worth 2 million euros from Luxembourg and Denmark

Luxembourg and Denmark donated network equipment worth €2 million to Ukraine. The donation was made as part of the IT coalition.

As part of the IT Coalition, Ukraine has been provided with network equipment and licenses worth more than €2 million. This assistance will help improve the work of the data centers and cyber defense of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"The cyber defense specialists of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine protect information and communication systems and networks from cyber attacks. The new batch of equipment will improve the protection of our networks and facilitate the implementation of a number of information systems - this is one of our priorities," said Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Transformation Kateryna Chernohorenko.

Netherlands urges West to boost arms production to support Ukraine

"If we want Ukraine to win the war and regain its advantage, we will have to supply more," Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.

According to him, 32 NATO allies have demonstrated a greater willingness to invest more in common defense.

The Minister notes that European stockpiles of weapons are running out.

"So we will have to find very creative ways to continue to support Ukraine," he says.

One way, he says, is to produce more weapons in Europe.

Okhmatdyt attack: Ukraine's Prosecutor General urges ICC to hold Russia accountable

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold Russia accountable for the missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv.

"For the sake of international justice, cases like the intentional attack on the biggest child hospital in Kyiv (are) worth lifting to the ICC," Kostin said.

Kostin, in an interview in The Hague, said that if the ICC takes on the charges related to the hospital attack, it would help establish a pattern of attacks indicative of crimes against humanity committed by Russia in Ukraine.

The ICC prosecutor's office stated that one of its teams visited the site of the strike on Okhmatdyt. While the ICC does not publicly comment on which charges it is investigating, it warned that anyone deemed responsible for attacking civilian objects could be held accountable.