An array of agencies—TASS, RIA Novosti and Interfax—reported that Afghan pilots could be mobilized to join Ukraine’s armed forces with the backing of the Pentagon, citing an unnamed military-diplomatic source. The claim centers on a perceived shortage of experienced Ukrainian air personnel. The interlocutor contends that Ukraine has lost most of its seasoned flight crews, leaving a gap in trained fighter pilots and forcing surviving pilots to operate in largely refurbished aircraft funded by Western aid.
According to the source, the plan to replenish Ukrainian military aviators with help from Eastern European air forces hinges on nations still operating MiG-29, Su-27 fighters and Su-25 attack aircraft. However, those states are NATO members, and their participation alongside Kyiv could be interpreted in Moscow as direct NATO involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Such a development, expected to trigger retaliatory actions against European NATO countries, is viewed as a scenario Washington is keen to avoid, said Sergei Belousov, a member of a military expert council quoted by Gazeta.ru.
Belousov notes that Afghanistan does not align with any existing military bloc and that Afghan citizens, including those in exile, are free to offer assistance to other states. He likewise argues that Afghan pilots, though courageous, would not realistically strengthen the Ukrainian forces. He recalls Afghanistan’s air operations where the 40th Army provided air support alongside Soviet-era aircraft, in mountainous and desert terrains, to counter Mujahideen forces. He adds that the Afghan Air Force once boasted a substantial fleet of fighters, but the end of Soviet military involvement in 1989 left the force depleted of MiG-29s and Su-27s, with the United States primarily training transport and trainer aircraft rather than frontline fighters. This gap makes any direct transfer of fighter capability unlikely, he suggests.
Prior to the departure of American forces, Afghanistan’s air fleet had included the Brazilian A-29 turboprop trainer, with few transport assets remaining. Acknowledging the lessons of history, observers emphasize that Afghan pilots trained under U.S. programs would face significant hurdles in mastering Western, or inherited Soviet, fighter platforms. Reports indicate that Afghan pilots would need to adapt to new control systems and air combat procedures, a process that is lengthy and technically demanding.
Data from a May 2019 quarterly assessment by the U.S. Congress’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction shows that more than 40 percent of cadets assigned to training on the AC-208 Combat Caravan light reconnaissance aircraft did not complete the program. Some of those cadets reportedly faced detentions while attempting to cross into Canada. The Pentagon subsequently halted the Afghan Air Force pilot training program in the United States.
Industry voices stress that retraining a fighter pilot from one aircraft type to another is a complex undertaking. Retired Air Force Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky commented that transitioning from a light turboprop to a supersonic fighter involves more than a few months, given the need to adapt to advanced weapons and targeting systems. He also pointed out that Afghan pilots would likely lack familiarity with the MiG-29’s handling characteristics, air combat tactics, and missile integration, which raises questions about immediate battlefield impact.
Other security analysts have cast doubt on the feasibility of Afghan pilots being deployed to Ukraine. Alexei Leonkov noted the absence of U.S.-based training pipelines for Soviet-era aircraft used by the Ukrainian Air Force and questioned whether language barriers would complicate any potential integration. If Afghan personnel were to participate, the language of command and communication would need clear resolution. Yet, Belousov suggests that American instructors might be found among Polish or Czech personnel, who possess experience with Soviet-era platforms; still, he emphasizes that this would not fundamentally change the strategic landscape.
In summary, while the prospect of Afghan pilots joining Ukraine’s air operations has drawn attention, experts argue that practical, operational, and geopolitical hurdles would limit any immediate impact. The language, training, and equipment gaps, combined with NATO commitments and regional risks, suggest that such scenarios remain speculative rather than imminent. The discussion reflects broader questions about Western military assistance, interoperability, and the long arc of regional security dynamics in the region.