Here are the losses I could identify for the 27th:

135 💀
12587 👻 in 124 past days#SkullThrone pic.twitter.com/GW2Xc58AhB

— Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) December 29, 2024

NEW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explicitly rejected two suggestions reportedly considered by US President-elect Donald Trump's team in early November 2024 as conditions for ending the war in Ukraine – the delay of Ukraine's membership in NATO for 20 years and the… pic.twitter.com/DoK2kYkeEk

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 30, 2024

3/ These demands include forcing Ukraine to become a permanently neutral state that will never join NATO, imposing severe limitations on the size of the Ukrainian military, and removing the Ukrainian government.

Latest on Ukraine: https://t.co/ONYEFID1hS pic.twitter.com/Vwq67JvFTf

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 30, 2024

interesting video. Former USAF F16 pilot advocating for foreign pilots to be used in Ukraine.

Have fun with that

GAC06 said:

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Have fun with that

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Why is that? I guess if he wants to go fly what is stopping him? We've had ex army guys go fight. Why not pilots?

Like I said, have fun with that. Ukraine's first F-16 loss was likely friendly fire.

GAC06 said:

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Like I said, have fun with that. Ukraine's first F-16 loss was likely friendly fire.

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So in theory there isn't anything stopping him. I took your post as that, not the good luck being cannon fodder.

I didn't find his interview full of anything of substance at all

I didn't watch the interview. If guys want to go fly for Ukraine, have at it. I doubt they'll attract useful pilots. That's all I was saying.

BQ_90 said:

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GAC06 said:

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Like I said, have fun with that. Ukraine's first F-16 loss was likely friendly fire.

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So in theory there isn't anything stopping him. I took your post as that, not the good luck being cannon fodder.

I didn't find his interview full of anything of substance at all

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I don't think Ukraine is allowing foreign pilots at this time. Might be influenced by the sourcing nations of the aircraft.

Did they stop using foreign pilots?

lb3 said:

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Did they stop using foreign pilots?

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I don't think they were ever using foreign pilots.

JFABNRGR said:

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lb3 said:

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Did they stop using foreign pilots?

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I don't think they were ever using foreign pilots.

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https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-air-force-allow-foreigners-to-serve-specialists-western-aircraft-2023-3?op=1

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-senator-urges-retired-f-16-pilots-to-join-ukraine-2024-8?op=1

Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

A last aid package for Ukraine before the new administration takes over. The $2.5B in military aid includes air defense munitions, counter-drone munitions, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, anti-tank weapons and artillery munitions.

"In addition to the weapons support, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced Monday that the U.S. is also providing $3.4 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine to help pay for critical government services during its ongoing fight against Russia. The money will pay salaries for civilian government and school employees, health care workers and first responders."

$5.9B

JFABNRGR said:

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Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

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What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

LMCane said:

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JFABNRGR said:

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Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

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What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

---

Thats not what I said. Never once did I state there is that many motivated go fly combat missions. Just commenting that there are many F16 pilots worldwide. Couple that with the few number of aircraft available somebody is willing to get back in the saddle for UKR.

JFABNRGR said:

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LMCane said:

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JFABNRGR said:

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Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

---

What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

---

Thats not what I said. Never once did I state there is that many motivated go fly combat missions. Just commenting that there are many F16 pilots worldwide. Couple that with the few number of aircraft available somebody is willing to get back in the saddle for UKR.

---

For context here are the current and former operators:
Argentina
Bahrain
Belgium
Chile
Egypt
Greece
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Morocco
Oman
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Venezuela
Denmark
Italy
Netherlands
Norway

ETA: I could see some unmarried Polish pilots wanting to test their skills.

lb3 said:

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JFABNRGR said:

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LMCane said:

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JFABNRGR said:

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Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

---

What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

---

Thats not what I said. Never once did I state there is that many motivated go fly combat missions. Just commenting that there are many F16 pilots worldwide. Couple that with the few number of aircraft available somebody is willing to get back in the saddle for UKR.

---

For context here are the current and former operators:
Argentina
Bahrain
Belgium
Chile
Egypt
Greece
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Morocco
Oman
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Venezuela
Denmark
Italy
Netherlands
Norway

ETA: I could see some unmarried Polish pilots wanting to test their skills.

---

Exactly. I believe its the most widely utilized air frame across the globe….and yes someone divorced or still full of viper semen going to want to scratch that itch.

JFABNRGR said:

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lb3 said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

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LMCane said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

---

What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

---

Thats not what I said. Never once did I state there is that many motivated go fly combat missions. Just commenting that there are many F16 pilots worldwide. Couple that with the few number of aircraft available somebody is willing to get back in the saddle for UKR.

---

For context here are the current and former operators:
Argentina
Bahrain
Belgium
Chile
Egypt
Greece
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Morocco
Oman
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Venezuela
Denmark
Italy
Netherlands
Norway

ETA: I could see some unmarried Polish pilots wanting to test their skills.

---

Exactly. I believe its the most widely utilized air frame across the globe….and yes someone divorced or still full of viper semen going to want to scratch that itch.

---

Lots of pilots out there that spent their entire careers training for skills they never got a chance to use in real combat. Certainly a few of those would love the chance to put their skills to use.

txags92 said:

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JFABNRGR said:

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lb3 said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

LMCane said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

---

What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

---

Thats not what I said. Never once did I state there is that many motivated go fly combat missions. Just commenting that there are many F16 pilots worldwide. Couple that with the few number of aircraft available somebody is willing to get back in the saddle for UKR.

---

For context here are the current and former operators:
Argentina
Bahrain
Belgium
Chile
Egypt
Greece
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Morocco
Oman
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Venezuela
Denmark
Italy
Netherlands
Norway

ETA: I could see some unmarried Polish pilots wanting to test their skills.

---

Exactly. I believe its the most widely utilized air frame across the globe….and yes someone divorced or still full of viper semen going to want to scratch that itch.

---

Lots of pilots out there that spent their entire careers training for skills they never got a chance to use in real combat. Certainly a few of those would love the chance to put their skills to use.

---

So why haven't they lined up to fly?

BQ_90 said:

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txags92 said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

lb3 said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

LMCane said:

---

JFABNRGR said:

---

Well something doesn't jive given that interview. I am all for it as long as they're vetted properly. Should be no shortage of F16 pilots and ground crew world wide.

---

What?

you think a ton of F-16 pilots are going to be signing up for what is likely a 60% chance they will be dead in a month or two?!

---

Thats not what I said. Never once did I state there is that many motivated go fly combat missions. Just commenting that there are many F16 pilots worldwide. Couple that with the few number of aircraft available somebody is willing to get back in the saddle for UKR.

---

For context here are the current and former operators:
Argentina
Bahrain
Belgium
Chile
Egypt
Greece
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Morocco
Oman
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Venezuela
Denmark
Italy
Netherlands
Norway

ETA: I could see some unmarried Polish pilots wanting to test their skills.

---

Exactly. I believe its the most widely utilized air frame across the globe….and yes someone divorced or still full of viper semen going to want to scratch that itch.

---

Lots of pilots out there that spent their entire careers training for skills they never got a chance to use in real combat. Certainly a few of those would love the chance to put their skills to use.

---

So why haven't they lined up to fly?

---

Who's to say they haven't? How would we know?

Why would they hide it, they didn't hide the foreign ground troops that have fought or fighting

BQ_90 said:

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Why would they hide it, they didn't hide the foreign ground troops that have fought or fighting

---

Because there's not many pilots and they don't want them assassinated. There are partisans on both sides.

The F-16 situation is hard to figure
I am sure there is a reason those planes are not being used in theater. Lots of theories on why the delay but no real answers

Footage of a Ukrainian SAM leaping up to down a Russian drone.https://t.co/yiWG0KzqNx pic.twitter.com/Keo8DOmKHo

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 31, 2024

Close anti air of radar driven guns should be more effective than much more expensive SAM.

More economic pain coming for Russia as the Ukraine - Russia NG transit agreement expires at midnight.

"Russia has been paying Ukraine transport fees to carry its gas through thousands of kilometers of underground Ukrainian pipelines as part of a 2019 agreement between the two countries. Russia then rakes in billions of dollars of profits selling the gas to European partners.

While Ukraine had the right to halt its gas deal by invoking a "force majeure" clause when the war broke out and deprive Russia of billions of dollars of funding for its war, doing so would have severely hurt Ukraine's allies and likely created a major energy crisis felt around the world.

Instead, Ukraine has emphasized to its partners that it does not plan to renew the deal past its 2024 expiry, giving them time to find and negotiate alternative sources of energy. It is also working to secure a separate deal to use its pipeline network to bring gas to Europe from Azerbaijan".

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-quadruples-domestic-gas-transit-fees-as-russian-gas-pipeline-deal-expires/

/2. The moment the Russian Mi-8 was shot down by R-73 missile launched from Magyar V5 sea drone. pic.twitter.com/NTmh71OpJm

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 31, 2024

Ha. I was just saying that would be a good idea the other day. Apparently they damaged a 2nd helo but it was able to make it back to base/land.

docb said:

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Ha. I was just saying that would be a good idea the other day. Apparently they damaged a 2nd helo but it was able to make it back to base/land.

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The footage is confusing. So there were 2 helos? The first splashed down about 1:05 and second was shot at and returned to base?

Either way kudos UKR. That system is going to improve and be almost undetectable until too late.

That's what I read off Reddit. No way I could make out the video that well beyond the one that appears to splash down.

Here is what is supposed to be captured audio from damaged helo but he does not mention first one. I wonder if this is two different events and spliced together. The targeting reticle is different as well.

The bad news is 3 HIMARS were hit with cluster munitions by russia. I cant understand why they travel so close together. I don't like posting UKR loss videos its on reddit. says damaged not destroyed but me thinks destroyed.

"PRINCE 482 (MI-8) AT RANGE 40, EXECUTING LEFT COMPASS, MAINTAINING KAZBEK ZERO SIX"
482, FALLING! 482, FALLING! 482, HEADING FOR KIMBA
WATCH ME, I'M HIT
482, CONTINUING THE FLIGHT, THERE WAS A CAP (EXPLOSION?)
THEY HIT ME< ENGINES ARE OK, THEY ARE HOLDING FOR NOW
I AM ON A COURSE FOR KIMBA, SIT DOWN ON THE BETTER (?)
THE LAUNCH WAS FROM THE WATER, AFTER THAT THERE WAS AN OTHER FLASH
I DIDN'T SEE WHERE IT WENT, BUT THE FIRST ONE WENT STRAIGHT ****ING AT ME.
IT EXPLODED SOMEWHERE NEARBY, I FELT IT ON THE HELICOPTER
SOME SYSTEMS FAILED
THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IS STILL OK.
THE AUTOPILOT CHOPPED OFF, I'M TRYING TO RESTART IT
SIT DOWN ON THE BOARD, ****! (?)
482, DESCENDING TO THE DRIVE ON THE 24TH, WATCHED FROM THE SURFACE
THEY LET IT GO FROM THE WATER ON THE LEFT, IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT, EXACTLY.
WELL, I STARTED TO MANEUVER, AND THERE WAS A SMACK IN THE AREA OF THE ROTOR BLADES.
I DON't KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS WERE THERE, ****.
THE AUTOPILOT HAS FAILURE, NOW THE PARAMETERS ARE LIKELY NOW (?)

JFABNRGR said:

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docb said:

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Ha. I was just saying that would be a good idea the other day. Apparently they damaged a 2nd helo but it was able to make it back to base/land.

---

The footage is confusing. So there were 2 helos? The first splashed down about 1:05 and second was shot at and returned to base?

Either way kudos UKR. That system is going to improve and be almost undetectable until too late.

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Yeah, that's what Russian milbloggers are apparently reporting.