The situation surrounding the transfer of Soviet MiG-29 fighters from the Polish fleet has reached an impasse. Warsaw, which previously confirmed its intention to assist Kyiv, has encountered an unexpected request from one of its NATO allies. Paweł Zalewski, a Polish representative, confirmed the fact of the inquiry but categorically refused to name the requesting country, despite direct questions from journalists regarding Bulgaria.

Kyiv's Priority and the Secret Ally

Despite interest from alliance partners, Poland has clearly stated its position: the primary priority remains the transfer of fighters to Ukraine. However, circumstances are such that Warsaw is forced to consider the needs of other nations. Currently, only two countries operate MiG-29s within NATO — Poland and Bulgaria. This makes the Polish fleet the only potential source of spare parts for Bulgarian aircraft.

The Bulgarian Air Force Problem

The situation in Sofia is critical. Bulgaria is gradually transitioning to new American F-16V fighters, but the process is slow. The first batch has already been received, and the second tranche is not expected before 2027. During this transition period, the country possesses 16 MiG-29 fighters, but only six of them are in serviceable condition.

The cause of the crisis was EU sanctions, which banned the purchase of spare parts for these aircraft from Russia. Bulgaria is seeking an alternative source of components, and the Polish fleet is the only solution. At the same time, Sofia is not yet ready to transfer its own MiG-29s to Ukraine, fearing the loss of its Air Force's combat readiness.

Technical and Political Barriers

Negotiations between Warsaw and Kyiv are proceeding with difficulties. Polish Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed receiving an official request from Ukraine and sees chances for success. However, the transfer process, which was suspended back in June, requires the resolution of several issues.

  • There are disagreements regarding the terms of the exchange and the financing of aircraft modernization.
  • Media reports suggested that Poland considered scrapping the MiG-29s instead of transferring them.
  • Warsaw expects Kyiv to resolve technical and political issues to resume the process.

Thus, Polish MiG-29s have found themselves at the center of a complex diplomatic game, where Ukraine's security interests clash with Bulgaria's needs for Air Force modernization.