Slovak government approves transfer of 13 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine
The Government of Slovakia decided to transfer 13 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine during its extraordinary online meeting.
The government unanimously approved the agreement on the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as a gift and will provide the aircraft jointly with Poland, the state's Prime Minister Eduard Heger says.
"Today, the government unanimously approved the international agreement, on the basis of which a decision was made to provide Ukraine with MiG-29 fighters and part of the Kub anti-aircraft system," the official said.
He also emphasized the fighter jets will serve to protect Ukrainians, and not to attack enemy aircraft.
Slovakia will soon receive 900 million euros compensation from allies for fighter jets.
These jets are still in Slovakia. The state's Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď did not say when they will be handed over to Ukraine during a briefing.
Ukrainian pilots are familiar with the MiG-29. The Air Force had 36 of them at the start of the full-scale war. It's likely the new fighters would be used primarily in an air defense capacity to down russian missiles, and aircraft.
