Poland has confirmed it is preparing to hand over up to nine MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine, with the first delivery planned once final technical clearances are completed. The initial batch is expected to include fewer than ten jets, reflecting practical limitations rather than any change in political commitment to military assistance for Kyiv.
The transfer has already received formal approval from Poland’s leadership, and attention has now shifted to execution. Paweł Zalewski, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of National Defence, stated that discussions with Ukraine have progressed beyond political decision-making and are now centered on aircraft readiness, logistics coordination, and sustainment planning between both defense ministries.
According to Zalewski, Ukraine has effectively signaled acceptance of the MiG-29 offer, with only standard technical issues still under review. These include defining maintenance responsibilities, supply chains for spare parts, and the operational condition of the aircraft. He reiterated that the number of jets in the first transfer would be limited, even though public discussions have referenced a maximum of nine aircraft.
Polish officials have linked the MiG-29 transfer to broader defense cooperation talks with Ukraine, including potential access to Ukrainian-developed unmanned aerial and counter-UAS technologies. The aircraft earmarked for transfer are already nearing retirement as Poland phases out its MiG-29 fleet. With replacements such as the FA-50 and upcoming F-35 fighters, Warsaw has emphasized that the transfer will not reduce Poland’s air defense readiness while reinforcing Ukraine’s combat aviation capabilities.
