Poland will send two MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in the near future, according to a senior official at the country's Ministry of National Defence. Dariusz Łukowski, who directs the ministry's Strategy and Defence Planning Department, confirmed the plan, as reported by the Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita and relayed by European Pravda.
Rzeczpospolita said the aircraft form part of Poland's latest assistance package for Ukraine, which is valued at roughly €50 million. The package will also include ammunition.
Asked when the jets would be handed over, Łukowski answered: "In the near future. The decision has been made, and these two MiG-29s will be transferred."
Reports indicate the two aircraft are in different condition. One has reached the end of its service life, while the other can still fly.
According to Rzeczpospolita, the package will contain 155mm and 152mm artillery ammunition. It will also include 20 by 102mm rounds for the six-barrelled cannons fitted to F-16 fighter jets, along with missiles for Piorun man-portable air defence systems.
The Polish Ministry of National Defence described the approach in a statement. "Poland is preparing another aid package for Ukraine," it said, adding that the scope of support is set by safety considerations for the Polish state and the resources of the armed forces, as established by the chief of the General Staff. The ministry noted that, as the defence minister has stated, the aid consists of equipment the Polish military is decommissioning because it has reached the end of its service life. Such equipment will no longer be used by Poland but may still be useful in Ukraine.
The ministry declined to say what else the package contains, citing confidentiality.
The announcement follows months of uncertainty over MiG-29 transfers. In August, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, said talks on handing over four MiG-29 jets were continuing but faced several obstacles.
In late June, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Ukraine had withdrawn from a proposed "MiGs for drones" arrangement. A few days later, he said the decision had been driven by the historical dispute between Kyiv and Warsaw. In July, however, he spoke of progress in carrying out the agreement. He later said Bulgaria wanted to buy the Polish MiG-29s that Ukraine was interested in, while Warsaw had not ruled out reaching a deal with Kyiv.
