“`html
Russian firm Awards Troops for Alleged F-16 Destruction in Ukraine
Table of Contents
A Russian company identified as Fores,based in Yekaterinburg,has reportedly awarded a group of servicemen 15 million rubles (approximately $190,000) for allegedly destroying U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine. The company, which specializes in fracking components, stated that the cash prizes were distributed too the troops near the Russian-Ukrainian border.
According to fores, the award ceremony took place on Friday, with photographs showing the faces of the soldiers blurred. The company has presented itself as the first in Russia to offer financial incentives for the destruction of Western military equipment.
“To date, the company said it has paid out 52.4 million rubles ($665,400) in bounties for the destruction of Western-supplied Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks, and also the first F-16.”
Ukraine’s acquisition of F-16s occured last summer, following a two-year campaign to secure the aircraft from the U.S. government. Initially, then-U.S. President Joe biden had resisted providing the jets, citing concerns about pilot training.
Reports of F-16 Losses
Reports from Kyiv in August 2024 indicated that one F-16 crashed during a Russian missile strike, resulting in the pilot’s death. Another F-16 pilot was reportedly killed during a combat mission on April 12. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses had shot down the fighter jet the following day.
Financial Incentives for Military Achievements
<
