Kremlin says Russia will shoot down Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian forces would shoot down U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine, and that the F-16s would have no significant impact on the course of the war.

Lithuanian and U.S. officials confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine had received the first order of long-awaited jets, which are equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.

Asked about the F-16s, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "If I'm not mistaken, rewards (for Russian forces to shoot them down) have already been offered."

He predicted the planes would not be a "magic pill" for Kyiv's forces.

"These planes will appear and gradually their number will decrease; they will be shot down and destroyed," he said.

"These deliveries will not be able to significantly influence the dynamics of events at the front."

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Andrew Osborn)

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