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.

"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 fighters are already in Ukraine.French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced this on X, the Ukrainian News agency

A first delivery of French Mirage fighter planes has arrived in Ukraine, according to President Zelenskyy, along with additional Dutch F-16s. Elsewhere, Russia claims to have repelled a Ukrainian offensive in Kursk.

Incident occurred during routine training sortie in central Madhya Pradesh state, pilots safe - Anadolu Ajansı

Ukraine said on Thursday it had received a first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets as well as U.S.-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands as European allies seek to strengthen Kyiv's hand in its war with Russia.

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

With Ukrainian pilots on board who have been trained for several months in France, they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine,” he wrote without specifying the exact number of aircraft.

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.