Ukraine’s Mirage-2000 warplanes reportedly flew their first combat sorties repelling a Russian airstrike overnight.
Between Thursday night and Friday morning, Russian forces launched 67 missiles and 194 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting critical infrastructure, particularly Ukraine’s gas production.
The Ukrainian Air Force said the Mirage-2000 fighters were used to shoot down incoming drones and missiles “for the first time” in its Telegram update.
“For the first time, French fighters were involved in repelling the Russian attack, having arrived in Ukraine just a month ago,” the update says.
In its Telegram update, the air force said it detected 261 aerial threats overnight:
- 35 Kh-101/Kh-55CM cruise missiles
- 8 Kalibr cruise missiles
- 3 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles
- 4 S-300 anti-aircraft missiles
- 8 Kh-59/69 guided missiles
- 194 Shahed drones and other UAVs
The air force said the country’s air defenses, electronic warfare systems and mobile fire groups all took part in the interception alongside the F-16s and Mirage-2000s warplanes.
Ukraine received its first Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France in early February.
While the exact number was not disclosed, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the jets arrived ahead of schedule with Ukrainian pilots on board after months of training in France.
