Today at 20:06
The Pentagon has commented on reports regarding the loss of Ukraine’s first F-16 fighter jet, stating that they are not assisting Kyiv in investigating the incident.
Deputy Press Secretary of the Pentagon, Sabrina Singh, made this statement.
When discussing the situation involving the crash, which resulted in the death of the pilot, Singh said that the U.S. has not received any requests from Ukraine for assistance in investigating the incident.
“I have seen the reports, but I don’t have any information about assistance being provided from our side or any requests for it from Ukraine,” she noted.
Singh emphasized that only the Ukrainian side can comment on the crash, and the Pentagon does not confirm any information about the cause of the accident.
She also stressed that the U.S. does not comment on the details of the incident or specifics regarding possible electronic equipment on board the fighter jets and urged inquiries to be directed to Ukraine for comments.
The Pentagon spokesperson also declined to comment on the number of F-16s already in Ukraine or planned for delivery, citing operational security concerns.
“I will not go into details about the number of F-16s in Ukraine. This is a matter for the Ukrainian side,” she emphasized.
Singh highlighted that combat aviation is extremely complex and that the U.S. is proud to have trained Ukrainian pilots both in the U.S. and with the help of allies.
It’s worth noting that several Western media outlets, citing Ukrainian and American sources, reported the F-16 crash during a massive missile attack by Russia on Monday, August 26.
Later, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the crash of the F-16 fighter jet while repelling one of Russia’s air attacks, resulting in the pilot’s death.
Read also: Ukraine can use the provided F-16s for strikes on Russia, – the Dutch Air Force general confirmed
