6 months into the war, we continue to stand side by side with Ukraine in defence against Russia's aggression
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- Date: 24.08.2022
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Today Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's senseless and unprovoked aggression for the past six months exactly. Slovakia has backed Ukraine in its efforts to protect the country, people and values to a maximum extent possible since the outbreak of this tragic war.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The Ukrainian people are suffering due to this absolutely senseless war. Just because of his appetite for power, Vladimír Putin decided to resolve things militarily. As a result, tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians have died to date. The entire world is suffering due to the effects of the war – the high price of gas and electricity. For this reason, the whole world must take steps together to stop Vladimír Putin and this entirely pointless war.”
Since 24 February, Slovakia has provided €154m of military equipment and materiel to Ukraine, which equates to 8% of Slovakia's defence budget. In terms of GDP, Slovakia ranks as the fifth highest among the contributors of military aid to Ukraine. SVK security assistance to Ukraine so far has included, among other things, the S-300 air defence system, the Božena mine clearance system, five Mi-series helicopters (4xMi-17 and 1xMi-2), munitions for the Grad MLRS, aviation fuel, petrol, firearms and other materiel. Eight Zuzana 2 Self-propelled Gun Howitzers are now being supplied to Ukraine via state-owned joint stock company KONŠTRUKTA-Defence.
The war in our neighbour's country has promoted high demand for humanitarian aid for the fleeing refugees, and, of course, the provision of defence and security for our country and its people. Since the outbreak of the war, SVK military personnel have been present at the eastern border in order to provide protection and monitor the green border between Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as helping refugees in collaboration with the SVK Police Corps. Up to 1500 service personnel would be deployed at the border with Ukraine on a daily basis in the early days of the conflict. Additionally, the SVK and CZE Armies set up a container camp for the Ukrainian refugees as a temporary solution to displacement. Working closely with the Military Support Foundation, the Slovak Armed Forces announced and organised several humanitarian aid collections. Thanks to these, more than 30 trucks with medical and humanitarian aid headed to Ukraine.
In response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the Slovak Armed Forces, as a guarantor of State security, have been put on standby. Working closely together with other state security agencies, they have been undertaking hundreds of tasks towards an enhanced protection of Slovakia.
The war in Ukraine has confirmed our belief about how important Defence investments are. Because of the fundamental change in the security environment in Europe, it has been demonstrated that spending 2% of GDP on defence is not the target, but standard practice across NATO.
For the Slovak Armed Forces, which still operate Soviet-era military assets, the Ukraine conflict has brought a sense of urgency to speed up their modernisation programmes and to wean themselves off dependence on the weaponry of Soviet provenance. Towards this end, 30 unused BVP-1 tracked infantry fighting vehicles from Slovakia's reserve inventories appropriated for mobilisation purposes will be transferred to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from Germany.
At the same time, the war has reaffirmed the strength of the transatlantic bond between NATO nations. Alongside giving us compensations for the materiel supplied to Ukraine, the Allies have provided us with personnel and strategic military assets. Most importantly, the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia (NATO MN BG SVK) stood up with the intent of strengthening our own element of deterrence as a component of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence, further reinforcing the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture.
Giving his assessment of the events over the past half a year, Jaroslav Naď reminded that Slovakia finds itself between two key milestones – it just marked the 54th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia under the leadership of Moscow on 21 August 1968 and it will soon mark the 78th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), when we begged the entire world to help us stand up to Hitler and Nazism. “Recalling our own experience, why do we wonder the Ukrainians are pleading for the same today? Just as we were thankful for aid from the entire world back then, today we, as a free and democratic community, commit to doing everything we can to defend against the new Hitler – this time from Moscow,” Jaroslav Naď concluded.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The Ukrainian people are suffering due to this absolutely senseless war. Just because of his appetite for power, Vladimír Putin decided to resolve things militarily. As a result, tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians have died to date. The entire world is suffering due to the effects of the war – the high price of gas and electricity. For this reason, the whole world must take steps together to stop Vladimír Putin and this entirely pointless war.”
Since 24 February, Slovakia has provided €154m of military equipment and materiel to Ukraine, which equates to 8% of Slovakia's defence budget. In terms of GDP, Slovakia ranks as the fifth highest among the contributors of military aid to Ukraine. SVK security assistance to Ukraine so far has included, among other things, the S-300 air defence system, the Božena mine clearance system, five Mi-series helicopters (4xMi-17 and 1xMi-2), munitions for the Grad MLRS, aviation fuel, petrol, firearms and other materiel. Eight Zuzana 2 Self-propelled Gun Howitzers are now being supplied to Ukraine via state-owned joint stock company KONŠTRUKTA-Defence.
The war in our neighbour's country has promoted high demand for humanitarian aid for the fleeing refugees, and, of course, the provision of defence and security for our country and its people. Since the outbreak of the war, SVK military personnel have been present at the eastern border in order to provide protection and monitor the green border between Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as helping refugees in collaboration with the SVK Police Corps. Up to 1500 service personnel would be deployed at the border with Ukraine on a daily basis in the early days of the conflict. Additionally, the SVK and CZE Armies set up a container camp for the Ukrainian refugees as a temporary solution to displacement. Working closely with the Military Support Foundation, the Slovak Armed Forces announced and organised several humanitarian aid collections. Thanks to these, more than 30 trucks with medical and humanitarian aid headed to Ukraine.
In response to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the Slovak Armed Forces, as a guarantor of State security, have been put on standby. Working closely together with other state security agencies, they have been undertaking hundreds of tasks towards an enhanced protection of Slovakia.
The war in Ukraine has confirmed our belief about how important Defence investments are. Because of the fundamental change in the security environment in Europe, it has been demonstrated that spending 2% of GDP on defence is not the target, but standard practice across NATO.
For the Slovak Armed Forces, which still operate Soviet-era military assets, the Ukraine conflict has brought a sense of urgency to speed up their modernisation programmes and to wean themselves off dependence on the weaponry of Soviet provenance. Towards this end, 30 unused BVP-1 tracked infantry fighting vehicles from Slovakia's reserve inventories appropriated for mobilisation purposes will be transferred to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from Germany.
At the same time, the war has reaffirmed the strength of the transatlantic bond between NATO nations. Alongside giving us compensations for the materiel supplied to Ukraine, the Allies have provided us with personnel and strategic military assets. Most importantly, the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia (NATO MN BG SVK) stood up with the intent of strengthening our own element of deterrence as a component of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence, further reinforcing the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture.
Giving his assessment of the events over the past half a year, Jaroslav Naď reminded that Slovakia finds itself between two key milestones – it just marked the 54th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia under the leadership of Moscow on 21 August 1968 and it will soon mark the 78th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), when we begged the entire world to help us stand up to Hitler and Nazism. “Recalling our own experience, why do we wonder the Ukrainians are pleading for the same today? Just as we were thankful for aid from the entire world back then, today we, as a free and democratic community, commit to doing everything we can to defend against the new Hitler – this time from Moscow,” Jaroslav Naď concluded.
