Foreigners can now serve in the Ukrainian Air Force.

Yurii Ihnat, Spokesperson of the Air Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made a corresponding statement on Thursday.

According to him, foreign citizens can become pilots or employees of the aviation engineering staff, if they have the appropriate military occupation.

He also noted that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, thousands of people had contacted the Ukrainian Air Force.

“There were a lot of people connected with aviation. These are Ukrainians who work abroad on various types of aviation equipment. Everyone offered their help to defend Ukraine. Among them were citizens of other states,” said Ihnat.

He reminded that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had military units in which foreigners involved in the fight against the Russian invaders on the side of Ukraine were serving.

“So why not. If they have a military occupation such as a pilot or aviation engineer, then these people can legally become servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Ihnat said.

The Spokesperson added that at the moment the Ukrainian Air Force operated Soviet-era aviation equipment, therefore there was no lack of pilots. However, according to him, the need for such specialists may increase once the Ukrainian military receives Western combat aircraft.

“If we have F-16 or other types of equipment, then maybe [foreigners – ed.] will appear. Because the experience of people who have long been working with this equipment will be needed even for briefing,” said Yurii Ihnat.

Previously, the Ukrainian Air Force explained why Ukraine needed to get F-16 fighter jets. In particular, fighter jets would strengthen Ukrainian air defense and protect against Russian missile attacks on cities and critical infrastructure.

Besides, modern Western-made aircraft would be able to gain air superiority over Russian combat aircraft and strike enemy ground targets in the temporarily occupied territories.

As previously reported, General Serhii Holubtsov, chief of aviation of Ukraine’s Air Force, told The Times that an American assessment of Ukrainian fighter pilots in the US had revealed they would be ready to fly F-16 jets after fewer than six months of training.