Ukraine lost its first French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jet yesterday during a mission, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft.
“Unfortunately, we have lost a combat aircraft. A very effective French aircraft, one of our Mirage fighters,” Zelensky stated in an address published on the Ukrainian presidency’s website. He clarified that the jet “was not shot down by the Russians.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported the incident occurred yesterday evening, confirming “no ground casualties were reported.” According to military officials, “The pilot reported an equipment malfunction to the flight director. He then acted competently, as required in a crisis situation, and ejected successfully.”
This incident marks another setback for Kyiv’s armed forces, which face significant challenges due to insufficient air defenses against Russian attacks. Ukrainian pilots and aircraft mechanics trained in eastern France to operate these Dassault Aviation-designed jets. Deliveries began earlier this year as part of France’s military aid package.