Slovakia to Hand Over Military Aid Package to Ukraine for First Time in Two Years

For the first time since the return to power of Prime Minister Robert Fico in October 2023, the Slovak government announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes engineering equipment and medical equipment.

This was reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, which cited a statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Slovakia Robert Kaliniak at the third International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC3) in Kyiv.

“I am very pleased to announce that together with Minister Shmyhal we have just signed a memorandum on the 14th support package, which provides for Slovakia’s engineering and mine action assistance to Ukraine,” Kaliniak said.

In addition, he noted that during the talks in Kyiv, he would discuss possible projects to expand defense cooperation.

Kaliniak also said that during a recent meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Ukrainian President Zelensky, defense cooperation was stated as one of the key topics for the upcoming intergovernmental meeting.

This information was confirmed by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. According to him, Ukraine will receive five Bozena demining vehicles and other equipment from Slovakia.

“We have signed an agreement with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Slovakia Robert Kaliniak on the transfer of non-lethal equipment and machinery. Slovakia will provide Ukraine with engineering and construction equipment, including Bozena vehicles, transport, demining systems, and medical evacuation equipment free of charge,” he said.

Military assistance from Slovakia

After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Slovakia was one of the countries that immediately began to provide Ukraine with significant amounts of military assistance relative to its capabilities.

A total of 13 aid packages worth about 691 million euros were transferred between 2022 and October 2023.

In particular, Slovakia handed over 13 MiG-29 fighter jets, S-300 air defense systems, 2 Kub air defense systems, and a significant amount of ammunition of various types. In addition, 30 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles were transferred as part of a “circular exchange” with Germany.

However, after the Social Democracy Party of Slovakia (Smer-SD) and its leader Robert Fico returned to power in the fall of 2023, the transfer of military aid was suspended.

At the same time, the new government did not ban arms sales. Thus, Slovakia continued to produce the Zuzana 2 self-propelled artillery system for Ukraine, as well as ammunition and Bozena-5 demining vehicles, which were localized in Ukraine.