Shoot down an F-16 and get a reward of Rs 1.42 crore… Russia gives an offer to soldiers
Ukraine is soon going to get F-16 fighter jets from NATO countries. However, Russian soldiers are waiting for it more than Ukraine. In fact, Russia has promised its soldiers a reward of 15 million rubles (about $ 170,000) for shooting down an F-16 fighter jet. According to Russian news agency TASS, on July 16, Fores, a Russian company specializing in oil drilling equipment, confirmed that it would pay 15 million rubles (about $ 170,000) to any Russian soldier who successfully shoots down the first F-16.
Russian company announced
Ilya Potanin, the company’s deputy executive director for social work, confirmed in a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry that Fores would pay 15 million rubles, about $ 170,000, for destroying the first F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine. The announcement was made during a ceremony where a group of soldiers received certificates and payments for the destruction of Western tanks in Ukraine’s Avdiivka region. “There will also be incentives for the destruction of F-16 fighter jets. For the destruction of the first, the reward will be 15 million rubles,” Potanin said.
Bounty for destroying Western tanks too
Force CEO Sergei Shmotyev first announced the establishment of this bounty during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. As CEO Sergei Shmotyev explained, the Force had previously established similar incentives for tank destruction, offering 5 million rubles ($55,910) for the first tank and 500,000 rubles ($5,591) for subsequent tanks. The confirmation of the bounty coincides with recent announcements from the Dutch and Danish governments, which revealed that the first F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and are expected to fly this summer.
When will Ukraine get F-16s
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen revealed that the “process of transfer” of F-16s to Kiev is underway. “Ukraine will fly operational F-16s this summer,” the two leaders said. Kiev needs an initial deployment of about 85 combat aircraft to strengthen its combat capabilities. Ukrainian officials have indicated that more aircraft than this number are on the way. The long-awaited delivery of F-16s is part of what NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described as a “substantial package” of support for Ukraine.
