The USA has purchased dozens of Soviet aircraft from Kazakhstan, which may be transferred to Ukraine, the Kyiv Post reports. Kazakhstan denies this information. It is claimed that the deals were made only among legal entities in Kazakhstan. 

According to the Kyiv Post, in October, Kazakhstan auctioned 117 old Soviet-era combat aircraft, and now it has become known that the United States bought 81 of them through offshore intermediaries.

“The US has purchased 81 outdated combat aircraft. The motive for the US purchase remains undisclosed, but it is about the possibility of their potential use in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service. The sale was made through offshore companies,” the article says.

It is reported that these are MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter-bombers, MiG-29 fighters and Su-24 bombers produced in the 1970s and 1980s.

For its part, Kazspetsexport claims that this information is untrue.

“The auction for the sale of aviation equipment was held only for Kazakhstani firms with the appropriate license under the condition of mandatory liquidation. Foreign companies were not allowed to participate,” Kazakhstan said.


It is alleged that the aircraft were sold for their disposal, and will be exported from the country only as non-ferrous metal scrap.