US Defense Ministry refuses to comment on crash involving Ukrainian F-16
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh (Getty Images)
The United States did not assist in investigating the incident involving the F-16 aircraft in Ukraine and does not comment on the exact number of these aircraft present on Ukrainian territory, according to Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.
Singh addressed the situation regarding the crash of an American F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine, which resulted in the death of the pilot. According to her, the US has not received any requests from Ukraine for assistance in investigating the incident.
"I have seen the reports, but I do not have information on any assistance provided from our side or any requests for it from Ukraine," Singh said.
When asked about the number of F-16s that are currently in Ukraine or are planned for delivery, Singh declined to answer, citing operational security concerns.
"I won't go into details about the number of F-16s in Ukraine. That's a matter for the Ukrainian side," she added.
Singh emphasized that combat aviation is extremely complex, and the U.S. is proud to have been able to train Ukrainian pilots both in the United States and with the help of allies.
"Every day, these brave men and women take to the skies to defend their country," she said.
Regarding the F-16 incident, Singh stressed that this is exclusively a matter for the Ukrainian side to comment on, and the Pentagon does not confirm any information about the causes of the crash.
The Deputy Press Secretary also emphasized that the United States does not comment on the details of the incident or any potential electronic equipment on board the aircraft, urging that inquiries be directed to Ukraine for further comments.
Backstory
On Monday, August 26, the Russian Federation carried out its largest attack on Ukraine in 2.5 years. The Russians launched 127 missiles and 109 kamikaze drones across our country's territory.
Subsequently, reports emerged that Ukraine had lost an F-16 fighter jet during the attack. The crash resulted in the death of experienced pilot Oleksii Mes, call sign "Moonfish." These details were later confirmed by the General Staff, which also announced an investigation into the causes of the crash.
For more details on what is known about the first lost F-16 and the death of pilot Oleksii Mes, read the RBC-Ukraine report.
