Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar stated on August 6 that Warsaw has a clear political will to transfer four decommissioned MiG-29 fighters to Kyiv. The problem lies in funding their modernization.
According to the diplomat, the aircraft in question are four planes that the Polish Air Force has already decommissioned and transferred from the Armed Forces to the Armaments Agency. Ukrainian specialists inspected the aircraft and concluded they would not be scrapped — the engine and airframe service life allows for further operation — but serious and costly repairs are required.
It is worth recalling that on June 30, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Ukraine had allegedly refused a previous exchange scheme involving MiG-29s in return for drone technologies.
A few days later, Deputy Minister Paweł Zalewski suggested that Ukraine itself was not interested in the aircraft without modernization, while Poland had no intention of paying for it. On July 2, the Polish Ministry of Defense decided to gradually phase out the MiG-29 from service.
However, as early as July 23, it became known that Poland had received a request for these same aircraft from another NATO country — likely Bulgaria. On July 27, the Polish side confirmed its readiness to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine, expecting in return broader cooperation in the field of drone technologies. At the end of July, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paulina Sobkowiak-Czarnecka announced that Kyiv had sent Warsaw a specific proposal regarding the four aforementioned MiG-29s.
According to Bodnar, everything comes down to funding and the availability of equipment that both Ukraine and Poland lack: some components will have to be sourced from third countries. If funds for modernization are found, the aircraft will join the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. If not — the matter will be shelved.