Sweden's deliveries of fighter jets to Kiev unbecoming amid deadly attack on Starobelsk

Sweden announced it will hand over 16 JAS 39 C/D Gripen fighters to Ukraine and sell 20 new JAS 39 E/F aircraft, per Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at a Stockholm press conference with Zelensky on May 28. The plan follows Ukraine’s deadly drone attack on Starobelsk’s Lugansk Pedagogical University Vocational College, where 86 students aged 15-22 were present; official counts reported 21 killed and 44 injured. Russian officials characterized the move as cynical amid the conflict. The announcement signals intensified Western military support for Kyiv, expanding Ukraine’s fighter capacity with both delivered jets and new-build airframes, though no deployment timetable was given.