In Kharkiv, Dutch Defense Chief Says Drone Aid, More F-16s Coming

In a surprise visit to Kyiv and the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans offered 400 million euros ($439 million) to aid Ukraine’s drone program and vowed that deliveries of additional Dutch F-16 fighter jets would arrive in the “coming months.”

“The Netherlands has previously played a leading role in the supply of [U.S.-made] F-16 aircraft and Patriot systems, and now we continue to do so with modern drones, investing 400 million euros in a drone action plan,” Brekelmans was quoted by the Dutch Defense Ministry as saying on October 6.

Brekelmans said the plan “applies to all types of modern drones that can be used for reconnaissance, defense, and attack. Especially in the air, as well as on land and at sea.”

He also said on X that “for the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine.”

“This is urgently needed. During my visit to Kharkiv, I saw the damage of Russian air strikes and the air raid sirens went off frequently.”

“The rest of the 24 aircraft will follow in the coming months.”

Ukraine has for months pleaded with Western allies for additional weapons, including warplanes, drones, and air defense systems, to help in its battle against Russia’s full-scale invasion. The Netherlands has been one of Ukraine’s top supporters during that time.

In August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that the first six F-16 jets had arrived, but he did not provide details. Media reports suggested that they had come from the Netherlands, but Brekelmans’ remarks appear to be the first public acknowledgement.

During his visit to Kharkiv, about 40 kilometers from the border and the regular target of Russian rocket and missile attacks, Brekelmans said he was disheartened to see “destroyed apartments. Power shortages. Children going to school in bunkers.”

“Ukraine can only defend itself by keeping Russia at a greater distance,” he said.

Early on October 6, Russian forces launched 87 drones and four missiles on Ukraine, targeting the capital, Kyiv, and other cities, Ukrainian authorities said.

Ukraine’s air defense units shot down 56 of the drones and two of the missiles, the country’s air force said on Telegram.

Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration wrote on Telegram that the Russian drones entered the Ukrainian capital “in several waves and from different directions.”

The strikes kept Kyiv and the surrounding areas under an air-raid alert for more than five hours during the night.

The air attacks also hit the Black Sea port of Odesa, causing several blasts in the southern city, according to local authorities.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the overnight strikes.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of Kherson, said earlier on October 6 that one civilian had died and 15 were injured in Russian attacks on the southern region in the past 24 hours./RFE/