(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — A Russian oil company, “Fores,” has announced a cash reward of 15 million Rubles (US$168,000) for any Russian military personnel who successfully shoot down the first F-16 fighter jet operated by Ukrainian forces.
The company’s director, Ilya Potanin, recently made the offer to the country’s military personnel.
“There will be a cash reward for any Russian military personnel who manage to destroy F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.
The reward for the first successful takedown of a fighter jet is 15 million Rubles (US$168,000),” Potanin stated.
Fores, based in the Urals, operates in the oil and gas industry.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense has also announced a cash reward of 500,000 Rubles (US$5,700) for any soldier who destroys NATO tanks in Avdiivka, a Ukrainian city in the Donetsk region.
Previously, Fores offered substantial cash rewards to Russian soldiers for destroying enemy military equipment, including tanks.
Rewards were given to soldiers who could prove they destroyed Western-supplied tanks such as the M1A1 Abrams and Leopard.
These cash rewards are part of the company’s strategy to support the Russian Armed Forces and boost the morale of troops fighting in Ukraine.
It also signifies corporate solidarity with the Russian government, led by President Vladimir Putin.
Fores’ decision to offer cash rewards is a response to the increased supply of Western weapons to Ukraine, which now includes F-16 fighter jets.
Ukrainian pilots have been sent to the United Kingdom and the United States for training to fly F-16s, supplied by several European countries, particularly the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.
Russia has warned that its air defense systems will shoot down these F-16 fighter jets as soon as they take off from any Ukrainian airbase.
Last year, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 10,000 of its soldiers had received cash rewards for successfully destroying Ukrainian military equipment such as U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, fighter jets, and helicopters.
Russian soldiers who destroyed Leopard tanks and Western-made armored vehicles and NATO equipment in battles in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine also received special cash rewards.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the highest reward given to Russian soldiers was 300,000 Rubles (approximately US$3,700) for destroying Ukrainian HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and TOCHKA-U ground-to-ground missile systems.
“Due to their success in destroying 15 TOCHKA-U and HIMARS launch systems, Russian soldiers received 300,000 Rubles each,” the Ministry stated.
Additionally, 300,000 Rubles were awarded to Russian soldiers who shot down 45 Ukrainian helicopters and 71 fighter jets during the conflict.
In 2022, 7,064 Russian soldiers received special payments for destroying 11,586 pieces of Ukrainian military equipment. — DSA