Czech Republic to grant licenses for military materials supply to Ukraine instead of military equipment
Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic Jana Černochová. Photo: Ondřej Deml, ČTK
Czech Minister of Defense Jana Černochová stated on Sunday that there was not much weaponry left in military warehouses that Prague could send to Ukraine.
She mentioned this during an interview on Czech TV channel ČTK, Rubryka reports.
"We will try to compensate for the impossibility of sending weapons from our reserves with export licenses that we provide to private companies. We do not want to jeopardize our defense capabilities," said Černochová.
According to her, the Czech Republic has available manufacturing capacities to assist Ukraine through private companies, and international partners are aware of this opportunity.
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"Of course, some countries that support Russia transfer their technology to them, just as we equip Ukraine. Catching up and surpassing the other side in the arms race is not easy, and for Ukraine, it may mean that some things do not go as Kyiv planned in advance," Černochová said.
The Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic previously disclosed a list of military aid provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-fledged Russian invasion in February 2022.
The total amount of military assistance to Ukraine from the Czech Republic during the full-scale Russian aggression exceeds 6 billion Czech krona (241.5 million euros). This assistance includes modern and Soviet-era equipment and ammunition.
Among other things, Ukraine received from the Czech Republic:
- 128 mortars produced between 1971 and 1979,
- 17,400 mortar shells,
- 62 tanks from 1968, 1977, 1985-1989, 1993,
- 13 self-propelled howitzers, produced from 1980 to 1986,
- 131 infantry fighting vehicles, produced between 1973 and 1989, and in 1993, and 1999.
Moreover, over 30,000 short-barreled, over 11,200 long-barreled firearms, more than 4.2 million unspecified caliber bullets, 645 anti-tank missiles, 17,400 mortar ammunition, 4,900 missiles, and over 84,800 artillery shells were supplied.
The list of aviation equipment includes four Mi-24 Hind helicopters manufactured in 2005 and 2006. The Czech Republic also supplied medical materials and medicines to Ukraine.
In September, the Czech Republic reached agreements with Denmark and the Netherlands to supply Czech military aid to Ukraine with their financial support.
It was also reported that Denmark and the Czech Republic would transfer combat infantry vehicles, tanks, heavy weapons, and other types of weaponry from Czech plants and warehouses to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Czech Republic will also give Ukraine the license to produce CZ BREN 2 assault rifles and assist in setting up their ammunition production in Ukraine.
