Russian Troops Receive $195,000 Bounty After Downing First Ukrainian F-16 in High-Stakes Air War

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a move that underscores the militarization of Russia’s private sector in support of the war effort, twelve Russian servicemen have been awarded a total of 15 million rubles (approximately US$195,000) by the industrial firm Fores for reportedly shooting down the first U.S.-supplied F-16 Fighting Falcon operated by Ukraine.

The reward was presented in a formal ceremony held on 29 May 2025 near the frontlines of Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, with several high-ranking Russian military officials in attendance, highlighting the significance Moscow places on downing NATO-origin aircraft.

“Fores has fulfilled its promise to transfer 15 million rubles to members of the Russian Armed Forces for downing the first F-16 in the special military operation zone,” the company said in a statement to the state-run TASS news agency.

The downing of an F-16—one of the West’s most advanced fourth-generation multirole fighters—marks a symbolic and strategic milestone for Moscow as Ukraine begins integrating high-value Western aircraft into its warfighting capabilities.

As of May 2025, Ukraine has received approximately 20 F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighter jets, with additional deliveries scheduled to continue throughout the year.

These aircraft are part of a broader coalition effort by European allies to modernize Ukraine’s air force and enhance its ability to counter Russian aerial and missile threats.

The Netherlands has pledged 24 F-16s, with deliveries beginning in late 2024 and continuing in phases.

Denmark has committed 19 aircraft, with the first jets arriving in 2024 and further deliveries planned into 2025.

Norway has pledged 6 F-16s, with the delivery process currently ongoing.

Belgium has announced it will provide 30 F-16s, with deliveries expected to commence during 2025.

In total, Ukraine is set to receive approximately 85 F-16 fighter jets from its European partners, marking a significant leap in Kyiv’s air combat capabilities amid its ongoing war with Russia.

Previously, Fores CEO Sergey Shmotyev declared during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that his company would provide a monetary incentive to the first Russian unit capable of neutralizing an F-16 in Ukrainian airspace, a pledge now fulfilled amid growing military-industrial convergence in the war.

Based in the Ural region, Fores is primarily a chemical manufacturing company servicing the petroleum and gas industry, but has emerged as a significant auxiliary force in Russia’s wartime logistics and materiel chain.

Since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the firm has become a key contributor to Russia’s war effort, leveraging private capital to provide support normally reserved for state defence institutions.

According to Russian media, Fores has donated more than 237.7 million rubles (approximately USD3 million) to date for the procurement of critical battlefield systems including tactical gear, encrypted communications equipment, electronic warfare (EW) jamming devices, thermal imaging sensors, as well as medical and battlefield evacuation kits.

In addition to hardware, the company has reportedly supplied over 500 tonnes of pharmaceuticals and healthcare materials to Russian frontline units operating in contested zones across eastern and southern Ukraine.

The reported F-16 shootdown follows a 13 April 2025 announcement by Russia’s Ministry of Defence, which claimed its air defence forces successfully engaged and destroyed a Ukrainian-operated F-16 Fighting Falcon—believed to be among the first operational sorties of the U.S.-made fighter over the battlefield.

The Ministry added that Russian air defence systems also intercepted and destroyed eight Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), seven HIMARS rockets, and 207 fixed-wing drones during the same 24-hour period, in what it framed as a comprehensive repulsion of a multi-vector Western-backed assault.

The introduction of the F-16 into Ukrainian service, long anticipated as a potential game-changer, represents a shift in the aerial order of battle, as Kyiv attempts to claw back control of contested airspace amid continued Russian dominance of long-range surface-to-air missile coverage.

If independently confirmed, the F-16’s downing would not only deal a psychological blow to Western defence stakeholders, but also serve as a propaganda victory for Moscow in its effort to discredit Western military aid and show the survivability of its air defence network—particularly systems like the S-300, S-400 Triumf, or Buk-M3 platforms.

With more F-16s expected to arrive in Ukraine in phased deliveries from NATO nations including Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium, Russia’s engagement tactics are likely to evolve further as both sides shift toward a high-intensity, contested aerial theatre driven by stand-off precision strikes and electronic warfare supremacy.

As the war continues to blur the lines between state and private sector involvement, firms like Fores—once peripheral to battlefield dynamics—are increasingly positioning themselves as integral players in the Kremlin’s wider campaign to mobilize Russia’s industrial base for long-term conflict sustainability.

Fores, a privately-owned Russian industrial firm headquartered in the Ural region, has emerged as a prominent player in the country’s defence-adjacent ecosystem since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Founded as a chemical and industrial technology enterprise, Fores traditionally specialized in producing ceramic proppants and composite materials for use in the oil and gas extraction industry, particularly in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and high-pressure drilling operations.

Despite its non-military origins, the company has become one of the most visible corporate sponsors of the Russian Armed Forces, leveraging its financial resources and logistics network to supply troops engaged in the ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine.

As of mid-2025, the company has reportedly contributed over 237.7 million rubles (approximately USD3 million) to directly support frontline Russian units, including funding for:

• Tactical hardware

• Encrypted communications systems

• Electronic warfare (EW) devices and jamming tools

• Thermal imaging cameras and sensors

• Medical supplies and battlefield evacuation kits

In addition, Fores has procured and delivered over 500 tonnes of healthcare products and pharmaceuticals for military personnel deployed to high-intensity combat zones in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Fores’ transformation from an energy-focused manufacturing firm into a wartime benefactor reflects a broader trend within Russia, where the Kremlin is actively encouraging “patriotic capitalism”—the integration of private enterprise into national defence objectives.

The company’s support is widely seen by analysts as a case study in how civilian industries are being co-opted to sustain prolonged conventional warfare, particularly in a sanctions-heavy environment where state-owned defence firms face material and financial constraints.

By positioning itself as a logistical and financial extension of Russia’s military apparatus, Fores has effectively aligned its corporate identity with the war effort, earning praise from domestic nationalist circles and condemnation from international watchdogs monitoring dual-use material transfers.

While Fores is not officially part of Russia’s military-industrial complex (MIC), its active involvement in supplying battlefield-critical equipment and rewarding combat actions raises questions about the privatization of wartime incentives and the role of private capital in state-sanctioned kinetic operations.

As the war drags on and the use of Western-provided weaponry in Ukraine intensifies, companies like Fores are expected to continue playing a critical, albeit unofficial, role in Moscow’s strategy to maintain operational momentum—especially as high-value Western assets like F-16s, Leopard 2 tanks, and HIMARS systems increasingly enter the battlespace.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA