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Ukrainian forces have deployed French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jets in combat, successfully intercepting Russian cruise missiles during a large-scale overnight attack, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 7, 2025.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
This marks the first official report of the French fighter being employed by Ukraine, which comes just weeks after the arrival of the first Mirage 2000-5 jets in the country<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The overnight assault saw Russia launch nearly 70 missiles, including cruise and ballistic missiles, alongside approximately 200 attack drones aimed at critical energy infrastructure in multiple Ukrainian regions, including Odesa, Poltava, Chernihiv and Ternopil. Residential buildings were also struck, with casualties reported in Kharkiv after a missile exploded near an apartment building.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n Zelenskyy highlighted the decisive role of the newly operational Mirage 2000 jets, which, along with F-16 fighters, took to the skies to defend against the attack.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToday, F-16 fighter jets and Mirage aircraft provided by France were used to protect Ukrainian skies,\u201d the president said on X. \u201cIn particular, the Mirages successfully intercepted Russian cruise missiles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Last night, the Russian army carried out another massive attack on our energy infrastructure. Various facilities were targeted in several regions \u2013 Odesa, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Ternopil. In total, the Russians used nearly 70 missiles, both cruise and ballistic, as well as\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/bpj5XCPYSW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Volodymyr Zelenskyy \/ \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@ZelenskyyUa) March 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/center><\/p>\n The Mirage 2000-5 jets used in the operation were part of a package announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in June 2024. The French Ministry of Armed Forces confirmed that the first aircraft arrived in Ukraine in early 2025, with Ukrainian pilots who had undergone several months of training in France taking\u00a0the controls.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n The exact number of Mirage 2000-5 jets delivered was not officially disclosed. However, previous reports indicated an initial batch of three aircraft<\/a> would be provided by the end of the first quarter of 2025. France\u2019s Minister of the Armed Forces S\u00e9bastien Lecornu emphasized that the jets had been specially modified to meet Ukraine\u2019s operational needs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Mirage 2000-5, a single-engine air superiority fighter produced by Dassault Aviation, is traditionally designed for air-to-air combat. However, before delivery the aircraft were upgraded at France\u2019s Cazaux Air Base to enhance their capabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
From delivery to combat deployment<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Modernized for the Ukrainian battlefield<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n