General Dan Kane reportedly confirmed that a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-35 two weeks ago, marking the first air-to-air kill by a Ukrainian F-16, according to journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12). The confirmation has not been independently verified, and details of the engagement remain limited.
The confirmation, attributed to General Dan Kane, represents the first publicly acknowledged air-to-air kill by a Ukrainian F-16. The shootdown occurred approximately two weeks ago, though the exact location and circumstances have not been disclosed. The Zioneer has previously tracked multiple claims of aerial engagements in the Ukraine war, including a reported Su-35 shootdown in Zaporizhzhia and the destruction of a MiG-29 landing pad in Russia, though independent verification of such claims has been rare. Kane's statement, if accurate, would mark a significant milestone for Ukrainian air power, which received F-16s from Western partners earlier this year. No further details on the pilot or the engagement have been released.
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