Poland to transfer two MiG-29s to Ukraine in new aid package

Poland plans to hand over two MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, a move confirmed by Dariusz Łukowski, the director of the Strategy and Defence Planning Department at the Ministry of National Defence. Łukowski stated that the decision is final and the transfer will occur in the near future. The aircraft are part of a larger assistance package valued at approximately €50 million.

The two jets are in varying states of readiness. One aircraft has reached the end of its service life, while the other is still airworthy. This transfer follows a period of negotiation and shifting priorities between Warsaw and Kyiv regarding Polish military hardware.

In late June, Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that Ukraine had stepped back from an earlier proposal to exchange MiG-29s for drones. He attributed that decision to historical disputes between the two nations. However, by July, Kamysz reported progress in implementing the agreement. He also noted that Bulgaria had expressed interest in purchasing the Polish jets, though Warsaw kept the option of a deal with Ukraine open.

In August, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar said that talks regarding four MiG-29s were ongoing but faced several obstacles. The current plan narrows the scope to two aircraft as part of the latest financial and material commitment.

The €50 million package includes more than just the jets. According to reports, it contains 155mm and 152mm artillery ammunition. It also provides 20 rounds of 102mm shells for six-barrelled cannons mounted on F-16 fighter jets. Additionally, the package includes missiles for Piorun man-portable air defense systems.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence said in a statement that the scope of the aid is determined by the safety of the Polish state and the resources of the armed forces, as set by the chief of the General Staff. The ministry explained that the equipment being sent consists of items the Polish military is decommissioning because they have reached the end of their service life. These items will no longer be used by Poland but remain useful for Ukraine.

The ministry declined to disclose other details of the package, citing confidentiality rules. The transfer of the two MiG-29s represents a concrete step in the ongoing support for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.