Russian Patrons Offer $1 Million Reward for First Downed Mirage 2000 Fighter Jet in Ukraine

Russian patrons have announced a $1 million reward for the first Mirage 2000 fighter jet downed in Ukraine, according to Russian telegram channel, Fighterbomber, on February 6.

The announcement follows reports from France confirming the delivery of its first Mirage 2000 jets to Ukraine.

In the past, Fores  had announced a reward of $168,000 for the first downed F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine, Director General Sergey Shmotyev stated during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"We have announced a prize for destroying an F-16 fighter jet if such jets are supplied to Kyiv," Shmotyev said.

Fores has also been known to offer cash rewards for the destruction of Western-supplied tanks in Ukraine, with Shmotyev confirming that several payments had already been issued.

The delivery follows France’s June 6, 2024, pledge to supply Ukraine with advanced multirole jets. The Mirage 2000-5F, originally designed for NATO surveillance, has been upgraded by the French Directorate General of Armaments, enabling it to launch SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles for long-range strikes.