UKRAINE used F-16 fighter jets for the first time in the war.
Commanders alerted F-16 Fighting Falcons to intercept Russian missiles and drones during a devastating two-day bombardment.
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The jets sped into battle as Moscow fired more than 300 missiles and drones, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iranian Shahed disposable attack drones and Kalibr submarine-launched cruise missiles.
The Russian attacks since Sunday were one of the heaviest bombardments of the war and had caused “significant damage” to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said: “We shot down some missiles with the help of F-16 fighter jets.”
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian armed forces said they had shot down five of the 91 cruise missiles and 60 combat drones fired.
Zelensky reiterated his appeal to his allies, including Britain, to lift the long-standing ban on striking Russia with Western weapons.
He said: “There should be no restrictions on Ukraine’s weapons range as long as Russia uses all possible weapons of its own, as well as Shahed drones and ballistic missiles from North Korea.
“The US, the UK, France and other partners have the power to help us stop terrorism. We need decisions.”
Britain donated bunker-busting Storm Shadow missiles, which Ukraine has modified to fire from its Soviet-era aircraft.
They were used to attack high-value targets, including a Russian submarine and its naval headquarters in occupied Crimea.
However, due to restrictions imposed by the United States, Ukraine is prohibited from firing such weapons into Russian territory.
France has also donated its identical Scalp cruise missiles.
But both are based on US technology and may not be fired at sovereign Russian targets without the green light from Washington.
Britain supported Ukraine’s offensive against Russian airfields and ammunition depots deep inside Russian territory.
Denmark and the Netherlands delivered the first F-16s earlier this summer.
Together with Norway and Belgium, they have pledged to send over 90 of the jets developed in the USA.
This happened when Ukraine turned the tables with its spectacular cross-border blitz on Kursk.
Why are F-16s so important?
The F-16 is a fourth-generation fighter aircraft and the second most modern type in use in the West.
Also known as the Fighting Falcon or Viper, the multi-role aircraft is the most popular fighter jet in the world, with nearly 4,500 aircraft in service.
The aircraft can reach speeds of Mach 2 – around 2,170 km/h – and carry missiles and bombs worth up to 7.7 tons.
In addition to their devastating 10mm Vulcan rotary cannons, the aircraft can be equipped with weapons such as Sidewinder and Maverick missiles and Paveway bombs.
Retired US Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton had previously stated that the fighter jets would mean “groundbreaking changes” for Ukraine.
“It’s really versatile and can be used in many different ways,” he told CNN.
“And it’s also an aircraft that can potentially use its electronic jamming capability to attack some of the Russian radars.
“It’s a very important aircraft, it’s probably the best aircraft for all the different capabilities that Ukrainians could want, and it’s probably the only aircraft that combines all of that in one package.”
Since the surprise attack on August 6, his troops have captured around 500 square miles – an area the size of the Brecon Beacons – and more than 100 Russian settlements.
Zelensky said the attack was part of a plan to end the war.
His troops have taken nearly 600 Russian prisoners of war and have already exchanged 115 for their own compatriots in Russian captivity.
Zelensky said: “We have a plan to force Russia to end the war through diplomatic means.
“The war will inevitably end in dialogue, but we must begin that dialogue from a position of strength.”
He promised to share the details with President Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in September.
President Putin had previously stated that Ukraine wanted Kursk as a negotiating object for future peace talks.
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Meanwhile, Russian troops continue to advance in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass and are on the verge of a strategic breakthrough.
They are located just 10 km east of Pokrovsk, a gateway city that Ukraine needs to supply troops along the Donbass front line.
But there are fears of a nuclear disaster in Russia as fighting continues near a nuclear power plant and the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate.
The head of the United Nations nuclear agency flew to Kursk on Tuesday to inspect the site, which is about 40 kilometers from the center of the battle.
The Ukrainians have captured 100 cities and claim to have conquered 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory since the invasion began three weeks ago.
They are now reportedly even attempting to launch a second cross-border blitz on nearby Belgorod.
But while the West welcomes Kyiv’s bold offensive to challenge Putin, there are growing concerns about the power plant west of Kursk.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, warned that there was a “danger or possibility of a nuclear accident” that could have “serious consequences”.
He told reporters on Tuesday: “We assume that the power plant is still operating, but at the same time, the fact that the power plant is operating could become even more serious in terms of possible measures against the power plant.”
“When a power plant is operating, temperatures are much higher. If there were an impact or something else that could affect it, the consequences would be serious.”
