Recent reports have sparked rumors of a potential transfer of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets from Serbia, a Russian ally, to Ukraine as part of a new arms deal involving French-made Rafale jets.
Spread by Russian Source
Paris has agreed to sell Serbia 12 Rafale fighter jets, which led to speculation that Serbia might hand over its MiG-29s to France, with the jets eventually being transferred to Ukraine, according to Digi24.
Russian sources were quick to point out the possible transaction. Elena Panina, a former Russian lawmaker, shared on her Telegram channel that the agreement involves France taking possession of the MiG-29s and sending them to Ukraine. Panina claimed:
"The planes [MiG-29s] will be handed over to the French in December, after which they will be sent to Ukraine. Moscow has already been informed about this aspect of the agreement."
Panina also suggested that Serbia likely did not have Russia’s permission to transfer the jets, and she emphasized that this is not the first time Serbian military equipment has been sent to Ukraine.
She further pointed out that Serbia had previously sent ammunition to Ukraine through intermediaries, adding that the situation raises the question of which nations Russia can safely sell arms to without fear of those arms being used against them later.
Denies the Deal
However, Serbian authorities have firmly denied the claims. The Serbian Defense Ministry issued a statement dismissing the reports, clarifying that the contract with France for Rafale jets includes no provision for the transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine.
Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić called the rumors "a blatant lie," emphasizing that "MiG-29s belonging to Serbia are here to stay, and we will not hand them over to anyone."
Gašić also reiterated that Serbia is committed to maintaining and upgrading its MiG-29 fleet, which remains an essential component of the Serbian Air Force. "Serbia will continue to purchase advanced military equipment to strengthen its armed forces and ensure peace and stability," he added.
Serbia currently operates around 14 MiG-29 fighter jets, most of which were acquired through donations from Russia and Belarus between 2017 and 2021.
The Serbian Air Force has also undertaken significant modernization efforts to upgrade the jets with advanced radar systems and modern avionics, ensuring they meet NATO standards.
