The Polish government has decided to transfer up to nine MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. This was announced by Poland’s Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski in an interview with TVP World.
According to him, technical negotiations between the parties are still ongoing, but Ukraine has agreed to accept the offer. The first batch of aircraft will consist of “fewer than ten” MiG-29s.
What Polish Officials Previously Said
Earlier, Polish officials explained that these Soviet-made aircraft are nearing the end of their operational life and have no prospects for further modernization within the Polish Armed Forces. At the same time, Warsaw stated that it was ready to transfer the MiG-29s in exchange for access to certain missile and drone technologies.
The Ukrainian side has repeatedly requested the transfer of the fighters, but Warsaw had previously refused, citing concerns that it could weaken the country’s defense capabilities.
Conclusion
The transfer of up to nine MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine will be an important step in strengthening Kyiv’s air defense and supporting its ability to resist Russian aggression. Although the aircraft have already served a significant portion of their operational life, their transfer will allow Ukraine to enhance its aviation capabilities without significantly weakening Poland’s own defense capacity.
