Kyiv – Ukrainian forces have demonstrated the effectiveness of their newly integrated F-16 fighter jets, successfully intercepting and destroying a Russian Shahed-136 attack drone using onboard cannon fire, according to recent reports. The incident, captured on video, highlights Ukraine’s evolving air defense capabilities as the conflict with Russia continues.
Footage released on Sunday, February 8, 2026, shows the F-16, operated by the 107th Separate Aviation Wing, lining up the drone and opening fire with its 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon. The Shahed-136, also known as the Geran-2, exploded mid-air, with debris falling to the ground. The video, shared by Ukraine’s air force, captured the sound of the jet’s engine and the autocannon. A man can be heard exclaiming “Well done!” in Ukrainian as the drone is destroyed. Newsweek and LBC both reported on the event.
The Shahed-136 is a relatively low-cost drone, with a production cost of approximately $35,000 per unit, that Russia has used extensively in saturation strikes against Ukrainian targets. The use of F-16s to intercept these drones, particularly with cannon fire, is a notable development, as the jets are typically employed with air-to-air missiles. The Aviationist notes this is at least the second confirmed instance of an F-16 scoring a gun kill on a Russian drone.
This development comes as Ukraine continues to intercept a large number of drones as part of its layered air defense strategy, utilizing fighter aircraft, missile systems, and ground-based units. On Monday, February 9, 2026, Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 116 drones out of 149 launched by Russia, with approximately 90 of those being Shahed-type drones. The air force also stated that 11 ballistic missiles were launched, with an unspecified number intercepted.
Meanwhile, a Russian airstrike on Sunday, February 8, 2026, struck a residential area in eastern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding two others, officials said. The incident occurred in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region, causing a fire in a nine-story apartment building. This attack followed a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the United States had set a June deadline for reaching a peace deal with Russia.
In a separate incident, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the destruction of a drone warehouse in Rostov, according to reports. The increasing frequency of drone engagements underscores the intensity of the conflict and the importance of air defense systems for both sides. The successful interception of the Shahed drone by the F-16 demonstrates Ukraine’s growing ability to defend its airspace with Western-supplied equipment.
