Poland is working on transferring six to eight MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine out of the 14 currently in its inventory. The aircraft will be written off the Polish Armed Forces’ balance sheet by the end of December, according to Polish Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk.
These aircraft are leaving the Polish Armed Forces at the end of December, Tomczyk stated. They could end up in a museum, be sold, or scrapped for metal—or they could go to Ukraine and help destroy enemies. In his view, the situation is fairly obvious.
He emphasized that transferring the aircraft would in no way weaken Poland’s defense capabilities.
In return, Ukraine could provide Poland with access to advanced drone technologies that are being actively developed and used in combat conditions.
Decision pending
A final decision on the transfer has not yet been made. The issue is expected to be discussed, among other topics, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Warsaw, scheduled for Friday, December 19.
It recently became known that Poland is holding talks with Ukraine on the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft. The potential handover is linked to the jets reaching the end of their intended operational lifespan, as well as the lack of prospects for further modernization within the Polish Armed Forces.
In exchange for a new batch of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters, Ukraine would share several drone-related know-how solutions with Poland—technologies that have already proven effective on the battlefield.
According to Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, Ukrainian drones, among other items, will be delivered to Poland. However, he did not specify their number.
Communication concerns
It was previously reported that Polish President Karol Nawrocki learned about the possible transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine from the media rather than from government officials. According to him, despite being in constant contact with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, there was some misunderstanding in this communication.
On Friday, December 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Poland to meet with Nawrocki. The sides are set to discuss security, economic, and historical issues.
