Ukraine accepts first French fighter aircraft, Mirage 2000

France announced on Thursday that it has handed its first fighter aircraft to Ukraine, Mirage 2000, increasing Kiev's chances of shielding its airspace from the ongoing Russian bombings.

The first “Avians of this kind have arrived today in Ukraine”, France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in an X-script on Thursday.

He did not reveal how many French fighter planes were flown to Ukraine.

“With Ukrainian pilots aboard, after they were trained for several months in France, these planes will help protect the sky above Ukraine”, he added.

Paris had announced that it would hand over fighter aircraft to Ukraine, Mirage 2000, in early 2025. These planes are armed with air-earth missiles and anti-war measures.

Ukraine has long sought modern fighter planes from Western countries, especially F-16 and Mirage aircraft. In 2023, several Allied countries agreed to donate F-16 aircraft to Ukraine with US consent. The first F-16s surrendered to Kiev in August 2024.

“This is another step towards strengthening the security of Ukraine”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, for the arrival of aircraft.

With the arrival of these planes, we are continuing to expand our F16 fleet, with the Netherlands fulfilling its promises to support this” effort, he added.

Ukraine is making efforts to repel Russia's continued air strikes and curb Russian military progress on the front line, on the eve of the third anniversary of the war on 24 February.

At the same time, Kiev has undertaken offensive where it could strengthen its position, at a time when the West is trying to resume negotiations on a ceasefire and a possible peace agreement.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Thursday it carried out a night-on-night raid on the Primorsko-Ahtarsk air base in Russia's Krasnodar region.

According to Ukrainian military officials, this base served as a key point for the preservation, preparation and release of Shahed drones, as well as for maintenance of aircraft supporting Russian operations in Ukraine's Zaporija and Herson regions.

Russian channels in Telegram and residents of the town of Primorsko-Ahtarsk reported the fearful attack, while scattered videos on the internet showed fires near the air field.

The district head confirmed that air defence systems were activated to protect against fears.

At the same time, Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defence systems dropped 28 Ukrainians during the night on the Azov Sea, eight on the Rostov region, six on Krasnodar Krai and one on Astrahan.

In another incident, three people were suspected of being killed by a Ukrainian-dance attack within Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote in Telegram that the incident occurred near the village of Logacchiovka, which has been declared a restricted area due to the constant threat of fears from attacks since late October 2022. / REL/