Ukraine’s skies are empty except for F-16s—and the military doesn’t want civilians filming them

The Ukrainian Air Force is urging civilians to avoid filming F-16 jets, warning that such footage could provide crucial intelligence to Russian forces.
The Ukrainian Air Force has issued an urgent appeal to citizens to refrain from publishing videos of F-16 flights. Photo: Ukrainian Air Force via Facebook
Ukraine’s skies are empty except for F-16s—and the military doesn’t want civilians filming them

The Ukrainian Air Force has issued an urgent appeal to citizens to refrain from publishing videos of military aviation flights, with particular emphasis on F-16 fighter jets.

Military officials warn that social media posts featuring combat aircraft flyovers could provide critical intelligence to Russian forces. Even brief video clips released to the public domain might contain valuable information the enemy could exploit.

Air Force pilots face extreme danger daily, conducting combat missions in frontline areas where enemy air-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft systems pose significant threats. The statement emphasizes that any information revealing base locations, flight routes, or tactical maneuvers could enable Russian forces to target and destroy these aircraft.

“Video recordings of military aircraft flyovers in frontline areas—especially those of F-16 fighters—showing geolocation, notable landmarks, or objects, pose a particular threat,” the Air Force stated.

Since the Russian invasion began, Ukrainian airspace has remained closed to civilian traffic for three years. This means any aircraft visible in Ukrainian skies is almost certainly military in nature, making any footage particularly sensitive from a security perspective.

Read more:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts