this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2024
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where does it say that? Putin saying they'll shoot down f16s outside Ukraine could just be in Russia's territory or if they fly over a neighboring country like Belarus
F16s basically can't operate from within Ukraine, so they would have to be taking off from NATO countries. Russian officials have stated that Russia may strike airfields housing these F16s before. It's most likely that Russia will just shoot down f16s in Ukrainian airspace, but it's pretty obvious how this can escalate into a direct confrontation with NATO.
why cant they build a suitable airfield in ukraine?
F16s are notorious for needing very special conditions in the airfields to operate. They have neither the time nor the resources to make and maintain the airfields domestically in Ukraine. But the NATO countries have the budget assigned and the places far behind the front lines to be able to do it. If they try to do so inside Ukraine, they risk being targeted by Russian missiles and air force, specially now that the Ukrainian air defence is basically depleted. Using NATO bases is not just an adventure, it is necessary given the conditions to which the AFU has been degraded after two years of war. Two years ago, that was maybe realistic, but Russia made sure to strike airports and hangas non stop at the start of the war. There's a reason we have seen less and less Ukrainian planes as time passes, and more and more Russian ones.
R.I.P. Ghost of Kyiv.