The declared value of the sale was one billion Kazakh tenge, the quoted publication said, or $2.26 million, which equates to an average value of $19,300 for each plane.
The United States bought 81 obsolete and unusable warplanes, according to the Ukrainian Telegram channel Insider UA, Kyiv Post notes. According to Reporter, an English-language news site from Russia, the sale was made through offshore companies.
The reason behind the American purchase has not been disclosed, Ukrainian journalists write, but there is a possibility of their use in Ukraine, where similar Soviet-era aircraft are in use.
These aircraft could serve Kyiv as a source of spare parts or be strategically deployed as decoys at airfields, the Kyiv Post also notes.
What kind of planes did Kazakhstan sell?
These are MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter-bombers, MiG-29 fighters and Su-24 bombers.
The Mikoyan MiG-31 was a supersonic interceptor designed to defend Soviet airspace, according to Airforce Technology. The aircraft played a critical role during the Cold War.
Derived from the MiG-23, the MiG-27 was a ground attack aircraft and saw action in conflicts such as the Soviet-Afghan War. The MiG-29 excelled in air-to-air combat, was widely exported, and remains in service with some air forces.
And the Su-24 is a tactical bomber that remains in service with several air forces, including the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Ukrainian Air Force.
Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan has maintained close ties with Russia and has historically been one of its strongest allies.
The relationship between the two countries changed after Moscow launched the invasion of Ukraine. Kazakhstan then aligned itself more with the West, drawing the ire of some voices in Russia.
In March 2023, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan and stated that the US strongly supports “its independence, its territorial integrity,” AFP noted.
In this context, some of the Russian propagandists suggested that Moscow should turn to Kazakhstan after the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia “needs to be careful, Kazakhstan is the next problem, because the same Nazi trials as in Ukraine can start there,” said Vladimir Solovyov, a filmmaker and presenter at state TV channel Russia-1.
Kazakhstan’s efforts to modernize its military capabilities coincide with its growing engagement with Western nations, signaling a shift away from historical ties with Moscow, the Kyiv Post also states.
Illustrative photo: Hepta
Follow us on Google News
Tags: Bought Sovietera Fighter Planes Russian Ally Kazakhstan Ucr Press Writes
-
