The Ukrainian Air Force may have accidentally disclosed the location of its newly acquired F-16 fighter jets in a recent video. The footage, intended as a tribute to a fallen pilot, appears to have “unintentionally” revealed that these highly prized aircraft are stationed at the Kolomyia military airfield in the Ivano-Frankovsk region.
On August 25, Mykola Oleshchuk, the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, released a video to mark the first anniversary of the tragic death of Ukrainian Air Force pilot Major Andrii Pilshchykov, widely known by his callsign, “Juice.”
The video was aimed to honor Juice’s legacy and dedication to the Ukrainian Air Force.
In a touching scene, Lieutenant General Oleshchuk honored a commitment made during Juice’s farewell ceremony by permitting Juice’s mother, Liliia, to occupy the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet.
This sincere gesture symbolized Juice’s dream of flying these advanced aircraft, a vision he had tirelessly advocated until his premature death. Juice had been a vocal advocate for modernizing the country’s air force, highlighting the need for advanced fighter jets like the F-16.
The mother of Ukrainian pilot Juice got into an F-16 fighter jet instead of her son on the anniversary of his death 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/StpcsZWU3m
— Aurora Borealis 🤫 (@aborealis940) August 25, 2024
Although he left military service in 2021 out of frustration with the Soviet-era system, Juice rejoined the ranks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
His passion for aviation and commitment to defending his country saw him resume flying combat missions. His actions also contributed to the legend of the “Ghost of Kyiv,” a symbol of defiance against Russian aggression.
He often interacted with Western media, such as The Washington Post, CNN, and BBC News, consistently calling on Ukraine’s allies to supply modern fighter jets.
His call sign, “Juice,” was a nickname he earned while training with the US Air National Guard in California, where his preference for juice over alcohol became a light-hearted topic of friendship among his Ukrainian and American friends.
Juice’s untimely death on August 26, 2023, alongside pilots Viacheslav Minka and Serhii Prokazin, occurred when two Ukrainian training and combat aircraft collided during a maneuver in Zhytomyr Oblast.
The tragic accident led to an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, examining potential causes, including technical malfunction, pilot error, and violations of flight organization.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the investigation was still in progress; however, it has dismissed the possibility of sabotage because there is no supporting evidence.
F-16 Tracked to Kolomyia Military Airfield
Ukrainian media reportedly took extensive measures to obscure sensitive information before publishing the video showing the F-16 fighter jets. However, despite these efforts, a critical oversight allowed Russian analysts to pinpoint the jets’ exact location.
The identifiable feature in the video shows a residential block (coordinates: 48°53’55.0″N, 24°41’02.5″E) under construction next to the Air Force Base.
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The “Military Chronicle” Telegram channel shared frames from the video, revealing the fighters stationed at the Kolomyia military airfield in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
While the channel suggested these frames may have been included accidentally, it also speculated about a deliberate strategy.
One theory is that the video creates a narrative that the F-16s are only being operated from Ukrainian territory. In reality, however, these aircraft might also be flying from airfields in neighboring NATO countries, adding a layer of strategic ambiguity.
The Ukrainian TV channel that published the F-16 video in Ukraine did an extensive blurring job. Still, it missed one crucial detail that allowed the Russians to pinpoint the location exactly: 48°53'55.0"N, 24°41'02.5"E.
The feature in the screengrab below is part of a… pic.twitter.com/ORut1tdrIp
— Venik (@venik44) August 25, 2024
The identification of the Kolomyia airfield as the base for these jets is not particularly surprising. This facility of the Ukrainian Air Force has been regarded for an extended period as a probable location for the deployment of F-16s, mainly because of its distance from the Russian border and the availability of reinforced aircraft hangars that provide superior protection.
If unintentional, the disclosure of the F-16s’ location could have serious implications for the security of these valuable assets. With the Kolomyia airfield’s location now potentially known to adversaries, heightened security protocols may be needed to safeguard the jets and preempt any Russian military strikes.
Meanwhile, Russian media and Telegram channels reported on August 26 that Russian forces conducted a strike on the Ukrainian airbase in Ivano-Frankivsk, which was believed to be housing F-16s.
Pro-Russian sources, including RIA Novosti, claimed that the attack targeted a hangar containing military equipment and that the explosion occurred in an area where the Ukrainian Armed Forces were allegedly sheltering two F-16 jets.
“Not only power facilities come under attack, as a hangar with recently supplied aircraft has been hit in Ivano-Frankovsk. Two F-16s were hidden there, according to underground resistance,” Sergey Lebedev from the pro-Russian underground resistance said via Telegram, Tass reported.
EurAsian Times could not independently verify these claims when publishing the reports.
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