Zelensky Approves October Long-Range Operations, Promises F-16 Reinforcements

September 30 ------ Ukraine has approved its long-range operations for October and mapped out how supplies for its F-16 fighter jets will reach the country by the end of the year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Zelensky made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 29, following what he called a detailed discussion with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and the military officials responsible for planning domestic weapons production.

The meeting also covered a new system to counter Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones. “There are specific countries with which we negotiate concrete aviation packages. Reinforcements will arrive in the near future,” Zelensky said, without publicly revealing the countries involved or disclosing what the packages would include.

Belgian jets and ammunition

Zelensky’s most recent remarks come hours after he announced a deal with Belgium, which agreed to transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026. He said Kyiv would work to receive the aircraft through an accelerated procedure and that Ukraine had already received urgent deliveries of F-16 ammunition from Belgium and Spain. “As Russia escalates its attacks every day, we need to add more capabilities to shoot down aerial targets and protect people,” he said, without providing the delivery timeline.

Prototypes to counter jet-powered drones

Ukraine has agreed on the first prototypes of a system designed to down jet-powered Shaheds, which are faster (reaching speeds of up to 230-270 miles per hour) and significantly more difficult to intercept than the older propeller-driven models. “We have identified the first prototypes that can already become an effective weapon,” Zelensky said, adding that there are “clear timelines, funding, and production volumes that must be secured specifically for this type of weapon.” The announcement follows a frank admission from the president a day earlier.

On Monday, Sept. 28, Zelensky said Ukraine’s overall drone interception rate stood at 70%, but only 57% for jet-powered Shaheds – a figure he described as far below what is needed, according to Ukrinform.

Source: kyivpost.com