A crew of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system (SAM) destroyed a Western F-16 fighter with two missiles. This was reported by the commander of a Russian Armed Forces anti-aircraft missile battalion with the call sign Sever.
The most interesting target we managed to hit was the F-16. The first missile shredded it, the second finished it off.
According to the commander, his crew received the S-300 in 2024. The servicemen neutralized numerous threats, including ATACMS missiles and HIMARS rockets.
In the spring of 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defence officially stated for the first time that air defense systems had shot down an F-16 fighter. Later, it was reported that another American-made aircraft had been hit.