The Telegraph: Russian fighters received 15 million for the downed F-16 in Ukraine
Russian army soldiers received 15 million rubles for the first American F-16 fighter jet shot down in Ukraine, The Telegraph writes. The payment was made by the FORES company in order to encourage the military personnel on their own to actively destroy enemy equipment.
FORES has paid 15 million rubles to 12 Russian military personnel who were involved in the destruction of the Ukrainian F-16 in April 2025.
FORES has fulfilled its earlier promise to transfer 15 million rubles to Russian Army personnel for the destruction of the first F-16 in the area of a special military operation, the company said.
"Twelve servicemen who participated in the destruction of the target received cash certificates," the company explained, adding that the award ceremony took place on May 29.
Sergey Shmotyev, director of the FORES oilfield services company, promised a reward to the first fighters who destroy the F-16 on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The award was officially announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense last summer in its Telegram channel.
Since the delivery of the fighters in August 2024, according to reports, at least three Ukrainian F-16s have been lost, and two pilots have died.
"Higher and further"
One of the planes was shot down by enemy fire, and the causes of the crash of the other two planes are still under investigation.
This spring, a Russian 40H6 long-range surface-to-air missile shot down an F-16 deep in Ukrainian-controlled airspace. There is no official confirmation that this particular incident led to the payment of the award.
The awards are part of a broader strategy to encourage Russians to take more active action to destroy Western weapons.
Earlier, FORES announced monetary awards for the destruction of tanks supplied by NATO in eastern Ukraine, and, according to reports, several payments were made to Russian military personnel.
FORES, a company that produces proppant for the oil industry, has been supporting Russia's military actions since the very beginning of its operation. The company has donated more than three million dollars to the military, financing the purchase of equipment, communications equipment, radio interference systems, thermal imaging sights, medicines and evacuation equipment. The company also helped to collect more than 500 tons of medical supplies and medicines for Russian soldiers in its territory.
Modern fighter jets
Since the beginning of hostilities, Ukraine has been calling on the West to supply it with F-15 and F-16 fighter jets developed by the defense contractor General Dynamics from Virginia.
The country began receiving fighter jets in the summer of 2024 after Denmark and the Netherlands promised to supply 60 American-made F-16 fighter jets. Norway, Belgium and Greece have made similar promises.
The Ukrainian pilots were trained at the European F-16 piloting Training Center located in Romania.
The Institute for the Study of Military Conflicts highlighted the problems Ukraine faces when piloting difficult-to-control aircraft, as well as problems with equipment maintenance, spare parts and consumables.
