Slovak MiG-29s repurposed for Ukraine’s bridge-strike campaign

The aircraft in question, tail number 3709, was among the 13 jets transferred by Slovakia in 2023. While the Ukrainian Air Force has faced high attrition—with 38 MiG-29s documented as destroyed or damaged by the Oryx project—these aging airframes remain a vital asset. Modernized as MiG-29AS units, they feature specific IFF plates and flat antennas that distinguish them from original Ukrainian models. Current footage shows these jets deploying precision-guided munitions against Russian bridges, including a recent strike on the Seym River crossing at Zvannoe.

Simultaneously, the broader theater remains volatile. Near Kaliningrad, Nato forces conducted an unannounced exercise involving over 50 aircraft, including the advanced EA-37B electronic warfare jet, signaling a deterrent response to regional provocations. Meanwhile, ground fighting has intensified near Kupiansk and Dobropillia. Analysts describe the situation east of the Oskil River as critical, with Russian forces maintaining pressure on the city’s outskirts. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian forces continue unconventional defensive tactics, including the use of Yak-52 trainers to intercept loitering munitions, echoing the aerial combat methods of the First World War.