- Category
- Latest news
Slovakia Pledges New Military Aid to Ukraine Focused on Engineering and Demining
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Slovakia is preparing a new package of military support for Ukraine that will focus on engineering and demining assistance, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák announced in Kyiv, according to Interfax-Ukraine on October 6.
“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 delivery of engineering and demining assistance to Ukraine,” Kaliňák said during his opening remarks at the Third International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC3) on Monday.
The minister emphasized that his visit to Kyiv aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He said he is working with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to identify new projects that could expand “our already extensive defense cooperation.”
According to Kaliňák, Slovakia has significantly scaled up its defense production since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “In addition, we have tripled the production of indirect fire systems. I am very happy to see my distinguished colleagues from Denmark here, as we have just completed a joint project to deliver 16 fully automatic Zuzana howitzers—just a few weeks ago,” he said.
He also highlighted Slovakia’s growing role in regional defense initiatives, noting a fifteenfold increase in artillery ammunition manufacturing capacity.
Kaliňák reacted to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement that Ukraine is now capable of producing 40 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers per month, describing it as “a galactic figure.”
“The way Ukraine’s defense industry is improving is truly impressive,” he added.
The Slovak defense minister noted that during a recent meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Zelenskyy, defense cooperation was identified as one of the main priorities for the upcoming fourth joint intergovernmental session.
Earlier, it was reported that the Netherlands will provide $59 million to the World Bank’s trust fund to support Ukraine’s recovery efforts.
-f223fd1ef983f71b86a8d8f52216a8b2.jpg)
