Poland to Transfer 2 MiG-29s to Ukraine in €50 Million Aid Package

Poland will transfer two Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in the near future as part of a new military aid package worth around €50 million ($55 million), a Polish defense official said. Dariusz Łukowski, director of the Strategy and Defense Planning Department at Poland’s Ministry of National Defense, confirmed the transfer to Rzeczpospolita on Thursday, Oct. 29.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “The decision has been made, and these two MiG-29s will be transferred,” Łukowski said when asked when Ukraine would receive the aircraft. One of the jets has reached the end of its service life, while the other remains airworthy, according to media reports. The package will also include 155mm and 152mm artillery ammunition, 102mm ammunition for the six-barreled cannons mounted on F-16 fighter jets, and missiles for Piorun man-portable air defense systems. Poland’s defense ministry confirmed it is preparing the new aid package but did not disclose its full contents, citing confidentiality. The ministry said the package would depend on Poland’s national security needs and the capabilities of its armed forces. It added that equipment being decommissioned by the Polish military could still prove useful to Ukraine. Nawrocki backs MiG-29 swap in principle Polish President Karol Nawrocki has also signaled that a proposed deal to transfer MiG-29s to Ukraine in exchange for Ukrainian drone technology is compatible with Warsaw’s policy. Other Topics of Interest ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 28, 2026 War in Ukraine - Latest update, key takeaways and map from the Institute for the Study of War on October 28, 2026. Speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw on Dec. 19, 2025, during their first in-person meeting since Nawrocki’s August inauguration, the Polish president said the proposal did not contradict their policy. “I want to remind you that my scope of responsibilities is to take care of the interests of Polish soldiers, especially those from Malbork, who are wondering what will happen to the MiGs,” Nawrocki said. He called for a “strategic, symmetrical partnership” between the two countries, reflecting his insistence that Ukraine should offer greater reciprocity for Polish support. “This exchange of MiGs for anti-drone systems does not contradict our policy. So, after resolving the formal issues, I think this issue will be resolved,” Nawrocki said, stopping short of explicitly approving the proposed swap. MiG-29 for Ukraine’s drone know-how In early December, Poland’s military command said it was considering transferring its remaining MiG-29s to Ukraine in exchange for access to Ukrainian drone and missile technology. The proposed deal would involve six to eight retired MiG-29s inherited by Poland from the communist era. Ukraine already operates around 40 MiG-29s, according to Poland’s state news agency PAP. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received 14 MiG-29s from Poland and 13 from Slovakia. The aircraft would provide a near-term boost to Ukraine’s air force, as its pilots are already familiar with the Soviet-designed jets. Poland, meanwhile, plans to replace its MiG-29s with US-made F-16s and South Korean FA-50s. Ukraine is also seeking to modernize its air force with Western aircraft. Zelensky has discussed potential acquisitions of Gripen fighters from Sweden and Rafale jets from France as part of a longer-term effort to build a modern air fleet. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.