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10 clusters · 46 sources · 26 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: INTERNATIONAL · POLITICS

Poland restarts MiG‑29 talks as Ukraine scores air wins

Overview

Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz reaffirmed on 1 July 2026 that the hand‑over of up to 14 retired MiG‑29 fighters to Ukraine would not proceed after Kyiv abandoned the agreed exchange of drone‑technology expertise, a move tied to a diplomatic row over President Zelenskyy’s honorary recognition of a historic UPA unit. On 2 July Warsaw announced it would retire its entire MiG‑29 fleet instead of transferring the aircraft. Despite the suspension, Poland continued a broad military‑aid programme valued at roughly 15 billion złoty, covering heavy armour, helicopters, drones and additional air‑defence missiles such as the S‑125. The Soviet‑era S‑200 system supplied by Poland proved decisive in February 2024 when Ukrainian forces used it to shoot down a Russian Tu‑22M3 bomber and an A‑50 airborne‑early‑warning aircraft, underscoring the impact of Warsaw’s support.

On 9 July the minister announced that talks had resumed on a possible exchange of the retired MiG‑29s for Ukrainian drone technology, describing the proposal as a “clear offer: MiGs for drones.” The announcement coincided with the launch of decision 123, a reform streamlining testing and acquisition of unmanned aerial systems; 155 domestic firms have submitted proposals, five test sessions were held and 48 solutions evaluated, though many fell short of army specifications.

On 8‑9 July Ukraine claimed to have shot down a Russian Su‑35 fighter in a coordinated operation involving three F‑16s and a Patriot air‑defence system. Ukrainian officials later detailed that one F‑16 simulated a glide‑bomb attack to lure the Su‑35, while the other two provided cover; a Patriot battery positioned about 60 km from the front illuminated the jet with radar, enabling the interceptor to engage. The pilot ejected and was rescued. Russian media have not confirmed the loss, and Moscow offers differing accounts of the weapon that downed the aircraft.

Timeline

  1. about 15 hours ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Ukrainian forces down Russian Su‑35 fighter with coordinated F‑16 and Patriot strike

    Ukraine’s air force says it shot down a Russian Su‑35 over eastern Ukraine using three F‑16s and a Patriot air‑defence system.

  2. 2 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Poland's S‑200 air‑defence helps Ukraine down Russian Tu‑22M3 bomber and A‑50 aircraft

    Poland’s S‑200 system, part of a 15 bn zł aid package, enabled Ukraine to shoot down a Russian Tu‑22M3 bomber and an expensive A‑50 radar aircraft in February 2024.

  3. 2 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Poland seeks MiG‑29 exchange for drone tech with Ukraine, reforms UAV procurement

    Poland’s defence minister says talks are ongoing to trade MiG‑29 jets to Ukraine for drone technology, while Poland reforms UAV procurement, testing 48 systems from 155 firms, though industry urges faster moves

  4. 3 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Ukraine claims downed Russian Su-35 with F-16s and Patriot air defense

    Ukraine says three F‑16s and a Patriot system downed a Russian Su‑35 over eastern Ukraine, marking a rare loss of the advanced jet.

  5. 9 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Poland to retire MiG-29 fleet, ending planned swap with Ukraine

    Poland will retire its MiG-29 fleet instead of swapping them for Ukrainian drones, citing Ukraine’s failure to deliver and historic tensions.

  6. 10 days ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Poland suspends MiG‑29 fighter jet transfers to Ukraine over drone cooperation dispute

    Poland halts MiG‑29 deliveries to Ukraine after Kyiv backs out of a drone‑technology exchange, amid a diplomatic clash over UPA honors and warnings about Ukraine’s EU accession.

  7. 12 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Ukraine faces stalled drone-MiG swap with Poland amid Russian accusations of civilian attacks

    Poland halted its MiG‑29 for drone swap with Ukraine over unmet tech exchanges, while Russia’s OSCE envoy accused Kyiv of civilian attacks in Russia, citing multiple drone strikes.

  8. 12 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Ukrainian Air Force suffers multiple MiG-29 losses in June 2026

    Ukraine lost three MiG-29s in one day to Russian drone strikes and earlier a Su‑35 shot down another MiG-29 from 190 km—a record distance.

  9. 14 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 18 sources
    Ukrainian MiG‑29s suffer multiple losses in June 27 attacks

    Ukraine lost a MiG‑29 in a Poltava combat mission (pilot survived) and Russia claimed to have destroyed two more on the ground and shot down another with a Su‑35 on 27 June, highlighting heavy MiG‑29 attrition.

  10. 26 days ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Poland Halts MiG‑29 Transfer to Ukraine Over Unsettled Drone Technology Deal

    Poland says it will not give further MiG‑29 fighters to Ukraine until a drone‑technology exchange is finalized, reiterating the condition voiced by Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk.

Sources

actualidad.rt.com · aerotime.aero · berita.rtm.gov.my · businessam.be · curioctopus.guru · dantri.com.vn · defence24.pl · dziennik-polityczny.com · efakt.pl · europesays.com · fakty.interia.pl · hnonline.sk · index.hr · indomiliter.com · jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com · khaama.com · kurierverlag.de · kurir.rs · lanouvelletribune.info · liberoquotidiano.it · lokalno.mk · m.dantri.com.vn · news.az · news.yam.md · noplanetb.tportal.hr · op-online.de · prensabolivariana.org · qactus.fr · razydzisiaj.pl · rt.com · southfront.press · stirileprotv.ro · szostkiewicz.blog.polityka.pl · t-online.ch · tech.wp.pl · tfiglobalnews.com · thanhnien.com.vn · tvfront.rs · vlkovobloguje.wordpress.com · wiadomosci.wp.pl · wnp.pl · wojna.co.pl · world-today-journal.com · wtvbam.com · wydarzenia.interia.pl · zivim.gloria.hr