F-16s Down Majority of Jet Drones Amid Munition Build-Up, Zelensky Says

Combat aviation, primarily Western-supplied F-16 multirole fighter jets, accounts for 55 to 60 percent of all intercepts against Russian turbojet-powered Shahed strike drones as Ukraine scales up stockpiles of 20mm aircraft ammunition, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists. He explained that Ukraine has expanded procurement contracts to supply F-16 squadrons with the 20mm cannon rounds required to engage high-speed aerial threats, noting that deliveries have reached stable volumes.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Regarding the interception of jet-powered Shaheds, we are using our aviation very successfully,” Zelensky stated. “Today there is a build-up of ammunition for F-16s with 20mm shells. Both I and our Ministry of Defense had agreements. Right now we are receiving an appropriate quantity, and it is very good. That is, right now we have this.” The Ukrainian head of state emphasized that combat aviation represents one pillar of a multi-tiered counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) posture, designed to mitigate disruptions caused by bandwidth restrictions on satellite-guided drone platforms. “Next, we have several other solutions. Inexpensive missiles that are beginning to work,” Zelensky said. “Several new solutions that will arrive in Ukraine from partners shortly, alongside domestic production that is already functional. Furthermore, we have turrets, and as you know, we began manufacturing them – not in isolated units, but in dozens. We will continue to scale them up.” Other Topics of Interest Major Russian Strike on Vinnytsia Region Injures 6 A major drone assault on Vinnytsia region has injured six people and damaged critical infrastructure, with 24 drones shot down. European Patriot packages and the FREYJA anti-ballistic initiative Addressing the defense against Russian ballistic missiles, Zelensky stated that Ukraine requires an immediate transitional package of Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors from European partner nations to safeguard critical municipal infrastructure ahead of winter. The president outlined a sequential air defense roadmap under which European transfers will bridge the gap until bilateral procurement contracts with Germany and the multilateral FREYJA anti-ballistic missile project become fully operational. “Right now a package is needed from Europe and from certain other nations,” Zelensky explained. “Next, our contracts with Germany and FREYJA should begin operating in parallel. This is the plan, these are my calculations.” Zelensky observed that Ukrainian defense planners have identified European partner countries that maintain sufficient interceptor inventories, noting that deliveries through the NATO-coordinated PURL program have been constrained because the majority of US-manufactured PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors have been redirected to combat operations in the Middle East. “Partners heard all our concerns,” Zelensky said. “They know the quantities we receive through the PURL program and understand that the majority of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles from the United States went to the Middle East. They know that I need their support right now.” Zelensky confirmed that development work is progressing on the FREYJA anti-ballistic system, a 10-nation cooperative initiative involving key partners such as France and Norway. While acknowledging that sovereign ballistic missile defense systems historically require decades to formulate, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that the strategic timetable requires accelerated engineering schedules. “Regarding the FREYJA anti-ballistic project, Ukraine has done what it needed to do. What the partners need to do – 10 countries are participating – is in progress,” Zelensky noted, adding that he reviewed the program during bilateral consultations with French President Emmanuel Macron. “Systems like this are worked on for decades. We want this very quickly, because there is no time.” Push for European satellite autonomy following Starlink speed caps The technical adjustments across Ukrainian air defenses unfold following disclosures earlier on Saturday that Starlink satellite terminals operating inside Ukraine have been subjected to an artificial velocity cap of 161 kilometers per hour (100 mph), disabling domestic unmanned interceptors designed to pursue turbojet loitering munitions. Zelensky revealed that comparative trials conducted by Ukrainian specialists confirmed that Starlink-equipped vehicles operated normally at speeds of 180 km/h (112 mph) within EU borders, demonstrating that the operational constraints were geographically confined to Ukrainian territory. The unilateral throttling has prompted European governments to examine sovereign alternatives to commercial American satellite communications networks, Zelensky observed. “All of Europe saw that it is possible to regulate Starlink from the United States, regardless of agreements and contracts, and to limit speeds,” Zelensky said. “Therefore, Europeans themselves are now raising the issue of analogues. And they are already working on this.” Ukrainian defense officials have stressed that diversifying air defense munitions, scaling domestic automated gun turrets, and establishing independent European satellite communications frameworks remain vital to preserving municipal utility grids and civilian population centers ahead of freezing winter conditions. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.