Ukraine’s Air Force got a boost in its fight against Russia on Thursday with the arrival of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from France, along with F-16s from the Netherlands.

PARIS — Ukraine received the first Mirage 2000 fighter jets promised by France on Thursday, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said, giving the country its second type of Western aircraft in addition to F-16 jets handed over by allies last year.

"With Ukrainian pilots trained for several months in France on board, they will now participate in defending Ukraine's sky," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

The first French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets promised to Ukraine have been delivered, the French Ministry of Armed Forces confirmed.

A Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. The aircraft was on a routine training sortie when it crashed due to a system malfunction, according to reports. Both pilots ejected safely from the aircraft before it crashed near Sunari Chowki, thus avoiding any casualties.

Ukraine’s General Staff claims the country’s forces struck an airfield in southern Russia that was being used to launch Iran-designed Shahed drones and maintain attack aircraft used in the almost thre

France said Thursday it has sent the first of the promised Mirage jet fighters to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced in June 2024 that Ukraine would get the jets.

The first Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter for the Ukrainian Air Force has arrived in the country, according to statements from the defense ministries of France and Ukraine. With this development, Ukraine gets its second Western-made fighter type,