New evidence indicates that Ukraine’s Air Force has incorporated MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters from Azerbaijan, providing a small but meaningful boost to its combat aviation fleet. Despite the arrival of Western fighters like the F-16 and Mirage 2000, the MiG-29 remains a cornerstone of Ukraine’s airpower, valued for its adaptability, availability of spare parts, and trained maintenance base.
With heavy attrition since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, even a handful of additional MiGs represents a critical reinforcement for Kyiv.
The Azerbaijani Connection
The story of these jets begins years before the war.
- 2007: Azerbaijan acquired ~15 MiG-29s secondhand from Ukraine, overhauled at the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant.
- 2017: Continued maintenance and modernization of Azerbaijani MiGs took place in Ukraine.
- 2022: At least three Azerbaijani MiG-29s were undergoing repair in Lviv when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. These aircraft were effectively stranded.
Satellite imagery later confirmed that a Russian missile strike destroyed parts of the Lviv repair facility, but at least one ex-Azerbaijani MiG survived. Now, photos show a Fulcrum in Ukrainian service still wearing Azerbaijan’s distinctive blue-gray camouflage pattern, armed with R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles.
Whether these fighters were officially donated, sold, or simply absorbed into the Ukrainian Air Force remains unclear.
Foreign Fulcrum Transfers To Ukraine
The Azerbaijani MiGs join a broader effort to reinforce Ukraine’s Soviet-era fighter fleet:
- Poland: Delivered 14 MiG-29s from its inventory of ~28.
- Slovakia: Transferred 13 MiGs, four flown directly into Ukraine in March 2023. Some were upgraded to launch Western PGMs, such as GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs).
- Domestic restoration: Ukraine has refurbished dormant MiG-29s, Su-24s, and Su-27s from storage to operational condition.
Despite operating alongside incoming Western fighters, the MiG-29 remains essential due to availability of spare parts, pilot familiarity, and continuous upgrade work by Ukrainian engineers.
Combat Value Of The MiG-29
While not on par with modern fifth-generation fighters, the MiG-29 still offers Ukraine critical advantages:
- Multirole capability: Air defense with R-27 and R-73 missiles, plus integration of NATO-supplied precision-guided munitions.
- Ease of maintenance: Extensive Ukrainian expertise and infrastructure for servicing the type.
- Adaptability: Integration of JDAMs, HARM anti-radiation missiles, and SDBs onto the MiG-29 demonstrates rapid innovation.
- Survivability: Smaller and more agile than heavier fighters, making it suitable for dispersed operations from austere bases.
According to Oryx, at least 31 Ukrainian MiG-29s have been confirmed destroyed, meaning that every replacement fighter is vital to sustaining operations.
Geopolitical Angle: Azerbaijan And Russia
The transfer (or quiet absorption) of Azerbaijani MiGs comes at a time of strained relations between Baku and Moscow:
- 2024: A Russian air defense unit accidentally shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, killing civilians.
- 2025: Arrests and deaths of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia further worsened ties.
- Azerbaijan may now be looking to distance itself from Moscow and subtly strengthen ties with Kyiv, despite being a key logistics partner for Russia early in the war.
This shift may explain why these MiGs were allowed to transition into Ukrainian service, or at least why their presence is being revealed now.
Conclusion
The addition of ex-Azerbaijani MiG-29s may not dramatically change the airpower balance, but it highlights Ukraine’s ability to sustain and grow its Soviet-era fleet through unconventional channels.
Even as F-16s and other Western fighters arrive, the Fulcrum remains a combat-proven workhorse of the Ukrainian Air Force, carrying both Soviet and NATO munitions. Every additional MiG helps Ukraine maintain contested airspace and preserve pressure on Russian forces.
