Ukraine lost for the first time a French combat plane Mirage 2000 on Tuesday, July 22 during a mission during which his pilot could expel, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
“Unfortunately, we lost (a) fighting airplanes. A very effective French device, one of our hunters of mirages,” said the early head of state this Wednesday, July 23 in a speech broadcast on the site of the Ukrainian presidency.
“The pilot managed to escape and (the plane) was not fired by the Russians,” he added.
The Ukrainian air forces said the events took place on Tuesday night and that “no victim on the ground” had been identified.
A failure of aeronautical equipment
“The pilot informed the Director of theft a failure of the aeronautical teams. He then acted skillfully, as expected during a crisis situation, and successfully expelled,” said the Air Force.
This incident marks a new blow to the kyiv army, which suffers from lack of air defense to counteract Russian attacks.
Pilots and air mechanics have benefited from training in eastern France to maneuver these combat aircraft, designed by Dassault Aviation and whose delivery began this year as part of the aid in France.
Source: BFM TV
