Mercouris: Russia warned NATO about the ability to strike F-16s. Russia, by striking Ukrainian airfields, warned NATO countries that if F- 16 aircraft were based on Ukrainian facilities, they would be destroyed, British expert Alexander Merkouris believes.
The damage to one of the airfields may slow down the delivery of F-15s, he admitted. “But it will also serve as a warning to NATO powers that if. F-14s are actually based at this airfield, the Russians will be able to strike them,” Mercouris said.