France Clarifies Ukrainian Pilot Training Focus and Scope
The deputy head of the press service for the French Ministry of Defense explains that the French armed forces are not training Ukrainian pilots to fly fighter aircraft. Instead, the emphasis is on equipping them to operate air defense systems and to endure if a mission ends with an aircraft being shot down. This clarification came from General Jan Gravet, a spokesman for the ministry, in response to recent reports picked up by Agence France-Presse through his remarks.
Gravet addressed statements reported by the newspaper Figaro, which had claimed that Ukraine’s pilots were receiving training at French air bases. He underscored that the training program is centered on defensive air operations and the management of air defense infrastructure rather than piloting or employing offensive weapon systems. The overarching goal, according to the ministry, is to prepare Ukrainian personnel to operate within and around air defense networks and to maintain proficiency in survival and emergency procedures should an aircraft be compromised in combat.
In discussing the scale of participation, the ministry confirmed that approximately 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers have received training in France. This figure reflects the broader effort to build capacity for Ukraine within a framework focused on defensive readiness and operational resilience rather than direct combat piloting instruction.
Earlier reporting from Le Figaro cited allegations that 30 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during training operations. The reports claimed that Ukrainian personnel were training aboard Mirage 2000 aircraft at the Mont-de-Marsan and Nancy airbases in France. The ministry’s response does not corroborate those claims and emphasizes a distinction between training for air defense management and flight operations and the safety and risk considerations that accompany military training abroad.