Russia may have sabotaged fighter jet deliveries from Slovakia

Ukraine welcomes fighter jets from Poland and Slovakia But the machines from Slovakia may have been sabotaged.

MUNICH — Ukraine has long relied on Western warplanes to defend it against a Russian invasion. But the delivery of 13 MiG-29 jets from Slovakia proved dangerous for the defenders. According to media reports from Slovakia, Russian technicians allegedly sabotaged them en route to Ukraine.

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According to the report, technicians working at a Slovak air base until the end of 2022 appeared to have accessed the jets and tampered with parts before delivering them to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Knott said loudly Kyiv IndependentJets “can fly, but that doesn’t mean they’re combat-capable.” Further Business Insider And telegram It was reported.

Knott added that the defects in the jets “occurred only in areas where the Russians entered”. Technicians were hired on long-term contracts to perform major repairs on Soviet-era jets. The damage must be repairable, so Nat. According to him, Ukraine has the resources to fix the deficiencies and make the jets fully operational.

Sabotage fighter jets for Ukraine – but repair possible

“They have pilots, spare parts and a company that works on MiGs from the Soviet era,” he said. A few weeks ago, Slovakia and Poland promised to send remaining MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Nad says the Soviet-designed jets are no different from Ukraine’s own MiG-29s.

According to Nat, Slovakia will receive 200 million euros in compensation from the EU and 700 million euros worth of unspecified weapons from the United States. Slovakia has not had its MiGs in service since the summer of 2022 due to a lack of spare parts and experienced maintenance technicians after Russian experts returned to their homeland.

Fighter jets for Ukraine: Kiev expects F-16s from US

The delivery of fighter jets has so far been considered controversial. The US and Germany have so far ruled out supplying Ukraine with fighter jets. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in February that the Ministry of Defense would investigate the feasibility of deliveries.

Kiev has repeatedly asked its Western allies for modern fighter jets, expecting F-16s from the United States. Ukrainian military spokesman Yuriy Ignat said: “MIG will not solve our problems, we need F-16s. But Mick will strengthen our capabilities.” Slovakia It is the second NATO country after Poland to respond to Ukraine’s request for fighter jets To defend against Russia. Polish President Andrzej Duda had earlier announced that he would deliver four MiG-29s to Ukraine in the coming days. (CGSC)