Ukraine reportedly operates former Azerbaijani MiG-29 fighters in war with Russia
Ukraine may use Azerbaijani MiG-29 (photo: x.com/Archer83Able)
Ukraine may have replenished its aircraft fleet with MiG-29 fighters that previously belonged to Azerbaijan. The number of such aircraft is small, reports TWZ.
According to the publication, a photograph of a Ukrainian MiG-29 with camouflage characteristic of the Azerbaijani Air Force has spread online. In the photo, the fighter is painted in blue, gray, and violet-gray tones and, judging by the armament, was on a combat mission. The date and location of the photo are unknown, but the aircraft carried R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles. Despite the possibility of editing, there is no evidence of image forgery.
TWZ writes that several Azerbaijani MiG-29s may have ended up at Ukraine's disposal. In the summer of 2022, the @Caucasuswar account published a photo of three Azerbaijani fighters undergoing repairs at the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant. After the start of the full-scale war, the aircraft remained in Ukraine and, according to the media, could have come under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to available information, at least one of them survived a Russian strike on the facility in March 2022. At that time, satellite images recorded the destruction of a large hangar and other damage. The Lviv plant was a key target for Russia, as it remained the only one in Ukraine where MiG-29 overhauls were carried out. Foreign aircraft, including Azerbaijani ones, were also serviced there.
It is unknown whether these aircraft were officially transferred to Kyiv, sold, confiscated, or put into service in another way.
There were also rumors that Azerbaijan might have provided Ukraine with other covert support — supplying weapons, ammunition, and fuel.
Notably, the Azerbaijani MiG-29 fleet originally came from Ukraine. The first deliveries began in 2007, with Baku purchasing about 15 aircraft, which underwent repairs and partial modernization in Lviv. In 2015–2017, these planes participated in joint exercises with Türkiye and were later repaired again in Ukraine.
There is no official information about military aid to Ukraine from Azerbaijan.
Russia–Azerbaijan conflict
Over the past year, relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have deteriorated. In particular, last December, Russian air defense shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near Grozny.
Earlier this year, Russian security forces carried out mass detentions of members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg. There were fatalities during these detentions.
