Contrary to statements made by government representatives, the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, as well as the National Security Bureau (BBN), were not “specifically informed” about the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft to the Ukrainian side, the National Security Bureau announced.
According to the Bureau, the decision to extract part of the Polish Armed Forces’ combat equipment – the MiG-29 fighter jets – and hand them over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine should have been preceded by a separate consultation and, above all, by information delivered directly to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, government representatives claim that the matter had been discussed numerous times during meetings of the Council of Ministers’ National Security Committee, in which a representative of the President participated.
Social Media Posts
The discussions held at the meetings of the Council of Ministers’ National Security Committee – lacking concrete details regarding the scale of the donation, the terms and timing of the transfer, and the number of aircraft – and, even more so, social media posts announcing the decision hours in advance, do not constitute a reliable form of informing the Head of State, the BBN stated.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk asserted that in matters of this type, decisions are made by the Council of Ministers.
“The President does not have to be informed at all,” he stated.
Possible Transfer of MiGs
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday that any possible transfer of MiGs to Ukraine should be tied to, for example, transferring drone technologies to Poland—technologies Ukraine has developed during the Russian invasion. He also emphasized that the MiG aircraft still in service with the Polish Air Force are reaching the end of their service life—specifically, the periods in which their efficient and safe operation remains possible.
Ultimately, the MiG fighters are to be retired from Polish aviation and replaced by newly introduced aircraft types, including the FA-50 light combat trainers purchased from South Korea and the modern, multirole F-35 jets from the United States, the first deliveries of which are expected to reach Poland next year.