EditThe last MiG-29s: why Bulgaria became a competitor to Ukraine
The last remaining Soviet-era weapons systems are turning into a strategic resource. For Kyiv, MiG-29s are a tool of war. For Sofia, they have become a test of geopolitical choice
While Europe invests billions in rearmament with the latest Western fighters, Bulgaria has, according to reports, asked to obtain the Polish MiG-29s – alongside war-torn Ukraine. If these reports are confirmed by a deal, this will not be a simple purchase of ageing aircraft. It will amount to an admission of the failure of two decades of military modernisation. It will mean that Bulgaria is still unable to guarantee its air sovereignty without equipment produced in the Soviet Union.
The real stake
But is this really only about Bulgarian air sovereignty? The bigger question is whether the government of Rumen Radev genuinely wants the Polish MiG-29s for the Bulgarian Air Force – or whether the Bulgarian offer is intended to keep the aircraft away from Ukraine.
The second hypothesis cannot be dismissed against the backdrop of Radev’s consistent policy toward the war. Even as president, he opposed the provision of weapons and financial aid to Ukraine, argued that military assistance prolongs the conflict, and insisted that Europe should change its approach to Moscow. He has already withdrawn Bulgaria from the Coalition of the Willing and ended the supply of military assistance to the country attacked by Russia.
In this light, even a formal purchase proposal could produce an outcome that fully aligns with that policy – fewer combat aircraft for Kyiv.
For Ukraine, the Polish MiG-29s are particularly valuable. After overhaul they can be rapidly integrated into combat operations, as the Ukrainian Air Force already has trained pilots and the necessary infrastructure. Unlike Western fighters, there is no need for months of adaptation to an entirely new platform.
Even if Bulgaria does not ultimately receive the aircraft, its presence as an alternative buyer increases the pressure on Kyiv in its relations with Warsaw. And those negotiations are currently stalled.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski announced this week that one NATO country has formally requested the MiG-29s that Poland had intended to transfer to Ukraine. He declined to name the country, but Polish and Ukrainian defence media point to Bulgaria. Only two NATO members still operate MiG-29s – Poland and Bulgaria – which explains why Sofia is the only realistic alternative buyer if the deal with Ukraine collapses.
According to Zalewski, despite the offer from the allied country, Poland’s priority remains the transfer of the aircraft to Ukraine.
As Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev noted on X: “If Bulgaria has indeed requested the Polish MiG-29s, the government is trying to take aircraft from attacked Ukraine that it needs every day. While Ukraine is fighting Russia, Radev’s cabinet is clearly fighting for more Soviet equipment.”
EUalive has confirmation from a source that wishes not to be named that Bulgaria has indeed expressed interest in the Polish jets. When asked, however, the Ministry of Defence stated that “at present no negotiations are being conducted between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Polish side for the purchase of MiG-29 aircraft.”
On the question of where Bulgaria will overhaul the engines of its Russian fighters – in Poland or in Ukraine – the ministry replied that a public tender will be announced. Last year’s Bulgaria’s tender for ten engines worth more than €21 million failed because no supplier reacted.
The stumbling block for Ukraine
Bulgaria could receive the Polish MiG-29s if Poland and Ukraine fail to reach an agreement. A few days ago, Ukrinform quoted former Polish minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz as saying that the aircraft could go to Bulgaria if Warsaw and Kyiv do not strike a deal.
According to Onyszkiewicz, the main obstacle in the Polish-Ukrainian talks is who will cover the cost of the overhaul so that the aircraft are delivered in airworthy condition. In addition, Poland is insisting on access to Ukrainian technologies and practical experience in the use of drones and missiles in return. Kyiv does not appear inclined to accept the proposed formula.
Polish-Ukrainian relations have become further strained in recent months by the Ukrainian parliament’s decision to create a National Pantheon of Heroes that could include figures linked to the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
For many Ukrainians, the UPA is a symbol of the struggle for independence against Soviet rule. In Poland, however, the UPA carries a different historical memory – of the Volhynia massacres of 1943–1944, in which, according to Polish historiography, nearly 100,000 Poles were killed by UPA units and related nationalist groups. The issue remains one of the most painful in relations between Warsaw and Kyiv and periodically affects the political dialogue.
Is Bulgaria looking for a second-hand squadron?
The number of military aircraft that guard Bulgarian airspace is classified information. So is the current number of airworthy MiG-29s, how many are certified for combat duty, and how many crews can perform the Air Policing mission.
In 2023 the Ukrainian military portal Militarnyi reported that Bulgaria had 16 MiG-29s available, of which only six were operational. According to FlightGlobal’s 2025 data, Bulgaria has ten MiG-29s and five Su-25s, but no details on airworthiness.
Since December 2025, however, Bulgaria has had a squadron of eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft and is expecting another eight. Earlier this year Bulgarian F-16s carried out their first joint flights with MiG-29s, but it will take two years to fully absorb the American fighters. Until enough pilots and engineers are trained and initial operational capability is reached, the country will continue to rely on 30-year-old Russian aircraft.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov suddenly announced that Bulgaria needs one second-hand squadron and has sent letters to France, Sweden, the United States and other countries. An expert who spoke to EUalive on condition of anonymity described the intention as “strange,” noting that both Swedish Gripens and French Mirages have already gone to Ukraine. This leaves a very limited choice of aircraft that can be acquired at short notice.
On 9 July, Prime Minister Rumen Radev met the management of the Polish state-owned plant WZL-2. The official statement presented the conversation as a meeting on “continuing the maintenance” of Bulgarian MiG-29s and emphasised that the Polish company is essential for preserving the operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force. After the meeting, Radev stated that until an F-16 squadron capable of combat duty is fully formed, Bulgaria will continue to rely on the MiG-29s.
For 2026, more than 86 million leva (€44 million) are planned solely for the operation of the MiG-29s. Total planned expenditure on MiG-29s and Su-25s exceeds 114 million leva (€58.2 million) — more than €5 million higher than in 2024 and 2025.
Sooner or later the MiG-29s will disappear from European air forces. But the question of who will receive the last Soviet fighters in Europe is no longer an ordinary tender for military equipment. It is a question of who is helping Ukraine – and who is standing in its way.
Caption: Illustrative photo. Sukhoi Su-35S and Mig-29 fighter jets of the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatic team perform during the International Maritime Defence Show (IMDS) Fleet-2026 in Kronstadt, outside St. Petersburg, Russia, 10 June 2026. The exhibition runs from 10 to 14 June 2026 and hosts scientific conferences, demonstrations of naval technologies and public shows. EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV
Updated: July 24, 2026 - 06:41
