Ukrainian crews trained in air defense in France

Aid to Ukraine continues on the Parisian side. “We are training Ukrainian crews in France, in particular, in surface-to-air defense and survival if their aircraft is shot down,” General Jan Gravete, Deputy Delegate for Defense Information and Communications, clarified during a weekly press briefing.

On the other hand, “we do not teach Ukrainian pilots either to pilot or use weapons systems,” he clarified, thereby refuting Figaro’s information, referring to the training of Ukrainian pilots on the Mirage-2000 in France.

Ukraine asks Western partners for modern combat aircraft. However, France has Mirage 2000-Cs that were taken out of service a few months ago and which, according to the entourage of the French Air Force Chief of Staff, “still have little potential.”

“By definition, nothing is ruled out,” French President Emmanuel Macron commented at the end of January on the possible sale of Mirage. However, we warn at the headquarters, it will take time to get them in shape and devote several months to training Ukrainian pilots, whose fleet consists exclusively of Soviet MiGs and Sukhoi.

Overall, France “provides specialized training for up to 1,200 Ukrainians throughout the year,” General Gravet recalled on Thursday. In addition, 150 French soldiers will train up to 600 Ukrainians per month in Poland as part of the European mission.