The Ukrainian Air Force has denied reports claiming that a secret multinational squadron of F-16 fighter jets is operating in the country, calling the allegations unfounded and inaccurate.
According to the website Defence Blog, the rumors—initially shared by the French media outlet Intelligence Online—claimed that a squadron composed of Ukrainian, American, and Dutch pilots had been created to defend Kyiv’s airspace.
However, last Tuesday (17), Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, publicly rejected the claim and responded with irony. “Yeah! And Tom Cruise was leading the squadron,” he wrote on his Facebook profile.
The Ukrainian Air Force emphasized that no such multinational combat formation exists, while reiterating that Ukrainian air assets are actively involved in air defense operations.
Authorities also stressed that foreign support for Ukraine continues to be structured through training, equipment transfers, and coordination with partner countries, rather than the direct operational participation of foreign pilots.
The broader context of the denial comes amid increased scrutiny of Ukraine’s air defense posture, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly criticized the pace and effectiveness of efforts to protect cities and infrastructure from missile and drone attacks.
Since then, Ukrainian aviation has played a more visible role in interception missions, particularly against Iranian-made Shahed attack drones, which are frequently used by Russian forces.
Photo: Ukrainian Air Force. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
