Pilot ejects as French-supplied Mirage jet crashes in Ukraine due to technical failure
A French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jet has crashed in Volyn, Ukraine, due to equipment failure, Ukraine's military has said.
The pilot safely ejected, and no casualties have been reported on the ground in the crash, the first loss of a Mirage fighter jet since Kyiv began receiving the aircraft in February this year.
"Equipment failure occurred, which the pilot reported to the flight controller," Ukraine's military wrote in a statement.
"The pilot then acted competently, as is expected in crisis situations, and successfully ejected.
"A rescue crew found the pilot in a stable condition. There were no casualties on the ground."
France had sent an unverified number of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine to help protect Ukrainian airspace from Moscow's attacks.
The French-made multi-role Mirage aircraft was first flown in 1978 and has been exported to various countries, including Brazil, the UAE, Egypt, Greece, Qatar, and India.
It can fly at 60,000ft and comes in single-seater or twin-seater versions.
The aircraft has seen action all over the world and, in terms of its arsenal, it has two 30mm guns.
Peace talks in Turkey
News of the jet crash comes as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that securing a ceasefire and the release of prisoners is still his main aim before negotiations with Russia this week.
The first round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in nearly two months is scheduled to begin today in Turkey.
Mr Zelensky said that Kyiv and its allies were working to organise a leaders' summit and obtain the return of civilians and children held by Russia.
Over the past five months, Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul.
The two countries have previously agreed to swap prisoners, but there has been no large-scale peace agreement reached.
Russian summer exercises
Meanwhile, the Russian Navy has started its July Storm operational exercise, led by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, and the Baltic and Caspian Seas.
The training, which will take place between 23 and 27 July, will test the readiness of the fleet and flotilla groups to solve non-standard operational tasks.
Moscow's navy will also practise the use of long-range precision weapons, unmanned systems, advanced and modern weapons and military equipment.
While the personnel are at sea, they will work on anti-submarine operations and combatting attacks from enemy air attack vehicles, uncrewed boats and uncrewed aerial vehicles.
The exercise will involve more than 150 combat ships and support vessels, 120 aircraft, 10 coastal missile systems, 950 units of military and special equipment, and more than 15,000 military personnel.
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