Poland has confirmed an agreement covering the transfer of two MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, with senior defence officials saying the aircraft will be handed over in the near future as Warsaw continues discussions about the future of its remaining Soviet-designed fighters.
Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski confirmed the agreement during an interview with TVP Info on Thursday, 29 October 2026, after Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported that Warsaw had decided to provide Kyiv with two additional aircraft.
The announcement was followed on Friday by Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who said the two jets were being withdrawn from Polish military use and that Poland expected to benefit from Ukrainian unmanned aircraft technology in return.
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Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed on Friday that discussions with Poland concerning the two aircraft were continuing.
No delivery date has been publicly confirmed, and neither government has announced that the jets have already arrived in Ukraine.
Poland confirms agreement for two fighters
Speaking to TVP Info, Zalewski confirmed the existence of an agreement covering two MiG-29 aircraft.
“There is an agreement concerning the transfer of two MiG-29s to Ukraine,” he said, according to a translation of his Polish remarks.
Asked about additional aircraft, the deputy minister said the matter remained under discussion.
His comments followed reporting by Rzeczpospolita, which cited retired Lieutenant General Dariusz Łukowski, director of the Defence Ministry’s Department of Defence Strategy and Planning.
Łukowski confirmed that the decision to provide two aircraft had been made and indicated that the handover would take place in the near future.
The newspaper also reported that one of the aircraft had reached the end of its designated service life, while the second remained capable of flying.
Those reported technical details do not necessarily establish how Ukraine intends to use each aircraft. Older fighters can potentially provide operational equipment, components or spare parts, depending on their condition and the receiving country’s requirements.
Defence minister says jets are leaving Polish service
On Friday, 30 October, Kosiniak-Kamysz provided further clarification during a visit to the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Base in Mirosławiec, western Poland.
The defence minister said the two aircraft were reaching the end of their permitted service life and would no longer be useful to the Polish Armed Forces.
His remarks were reported by PAP, Poland’s national news agency.
Kosiniak-Kamysz argued that transferring equipment no longer required by Poland’s military was preferable to disposing of it when it could still provide value to Ukraine.
He also said Poland expected to receive unmanned aircraft systems in return.
The minister emphasised Ukraine’s operational experience with drones, pointing to the potential benefits of cooperation between the two countries.
However, the precise terms of any technology exchange, including delivery schedules and the systems involved, have not been publicly disclosed.
The two countries have previously discussed exchanging Polish military equipment for Ukrainian expertise in drones and missile technology.
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Those discussions have experienced delays, and the latest statements do not establish that all outstanding technology-transfer arrangements have been completed.
Why only two MiG-29s?
Earlier discussions between Warsaw and Kyiv concerned a potentially larger transfer of Polish MiG-29 aircraft.
At different stages, reports suggested that up to nine remaining fighters could be considered.
Poland has been gradually retiring its Soviet-designed MiG-29 fleet while replacing older aircraft with more modern types, including F-16s and South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft.
The MiG-29 entered Polish military service in 1989 and has remained in use despite its age.
However, its continuing operation depends on the technical condition of individual aircraft, the availability of replacement parts and the limits of their authorised service lives.
Zalewski said that Ukrainian interest in receiving additional MiG-29s had declined compared with earlier discussions.
He attributed the change to Kyiv’s increasing preference for more modern combat aircraft, including American-made F-16s and French Mirage fighters.
That does not mean Ukraine has rejected every additional MiG-29 or that the remaining Polish fleet has no potential value.
Rather, it indicates that Ukrainian requirements and the condition of the available aircraft are influencing negotiations.
Poland had previously considered transferring additional MiG-29s, with earlier discussions also taking account of Poland’s own air defence requirements.
Bulgaria interested in Poland’s remaining MiG-29s
Another development emerged from the defence minister’s remarks on Friday.
Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that Warsaw was considering selling some of its remaining MiG-29 aircraft to allied countries, with Bulgaria expressing particular interest.
He said the subject had been discussed during a September visit to Warsaw by Bulgaria’s prime minister and defence minister.
Bulgaria also operates MiG-29 fighters, meaning additional Polish aircraft could potentially be useful for maintaining or supporting its existing fleet.
However, no final agreement with Bulgaria has been announced.
The possible sale remains distinct from the confirmed Polish agreement covering two aircraft for Ukraine.
For Warsaw, the discussions reflect the broader process of withdrawing older aircraft while maintaining sufficient combat aviation capability.
Ukraine confirms talks are continuing
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry provided its own account of the arrangements on Friday.
During a briefing in Kyiv, spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi confirmed that Ukraine was working with Poland to receive two MiG-29 fighters.
According to Interfax-Ukraine’s report of the briefing, Tykhyi said the discussions were being handled primarily by military officials from the two countries.
He added that the Ukrainian authorities would not disclose detailed information about the aircraft transfer before it took place.
The spokesperson also thanked Poland for its continuing military assistance.
His remarks are consistent with preparations for a transfer but reinforce the distinction between an agreement and completed delivery.
As of 31 October, the aircraft’s expected arrival date and their eventual operational roles had not been publicly established.
Part of Poland’s continuing military assistance
The two fighters are expected to form part of another Polish military assistance package for Ukraine.
Rzeczpospolita reported that the planned package would be worth approximately €50 million and would also include ammunition and air defence equipment.
The newspaper identified artillery ammunition and other military supplies among the expected components.
Poland’s Defence Ministry confirmed that another assistance package was being prepared but declined to disclose its complete contents, citing security considerations.
In a July statement on Poland’s military assistance, the ministry said that equipment donations were assessed by the Polish General Staff to ensure they did not undermine national defence requirements.
Poland has already transferred MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine during earlier phases of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to Rzeczpospolita, 14 Polish MiG-29s were supplied in 2022 and 2023, although the aircraft were in varying technical condition.
The new agreement therefore represents an additional contribution rather than Poland’s first transfer of combat aircraft to Kyiv.
For Ukraine, the significance of the latest arrangement will depend partly on the condition of the two jets and whether they can be used for flying operations, training, maintenance or spare parts.
For Poland, the decision forms part of the simultaneous withdrawal of ageing military equipment, modernisation of its armed forces and continuing security cooperation with Ukraine.
The immediate next step is the handover itself. Warsaw has confirmed the agreement and Kyiv has acknowledged the ongoing arrangements, but neither side has announced when the two MiG-29s will reach Ukraine.
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