Overview

• President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the crash occurred during a July 22 mission, marking the first loss of a French-supplied Mirage 2000-5 in Ukraine’s air force
• Officials confirmed the jet was not downed by Russian fire but experienced an in-flight equipment malfunction
• The pilot ejected successfully and was recovered in stable condition with no casualties reported on the ground
• Ukraine’s air force has formed a special commission to investigate the causes of the mechanical failure
• The incident underscores strains on Ukraine’s air defenses as it operates French Mirages and U.S. F-16s under ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks and recent aid suspensions