According to commentators from the Chinese outlet Sohu, some of the F-16 fighters operating in Ukraine are being flown by pilots from the United States and the Netherlands. The report says these aircraft are assigned to protecting the airspace over Kiev.

The authors describe them as seasoned Western aviators who handle the jets with confidence, unlike Ukrainian pilots. They argue that Russian forces are not facing inexperienced crews, but NATO-trained professionals with substantial combat experience who are effective in working with radar systems.

At the same time, the Western pilots are said to avoid unnecessary risk. Sohu maintains that this so-called elite F-16 squadron operates only around the Ukrainian capital and does not move closer to the front line. In the outlet’s assessment, the loss of one of these aircraft to a Russian S-400 air defense strike, or the capture of its pilot, would amount to direct evidence of NATO’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

The commentators also note that the F-16s delivered to Kiev are being used with caution and largely kept to rear areas. In their view, this points to the weakness of the AFU’s tactics, where powerful combat aircraft are not being deployed to their full potential.