Slovak S-300 to be replaced with one of the most advanced air defence systems

The Ministry of Defence confirms that Slovakia has provided its S-300 air defence system to Ukraine. This comes in reaction to Ukraine's request for assistance as an exercise of self-defence in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter as a direct consequence of Russia's armed aggression.

This is a responsible decision by which the Slovak Republic, as a country that supports peace, freedom and the protection of human rights, is providing assistance to Ukraine and its innocent citizens in the form of a purely defensive system, while we believe this system will help save as many innocent Ukrainians as possible from further aggression by Putin's regime.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The security of the Slovak Republic and our citizens remains uppermost in our thoughts, which is why we took this step only at a time when we had an adequate replacement for the S-300 system confirmed, just as we had announced before. This will be the fourth battery from our Allies of one of the most advanced air defence systems – Patriot, with which the territory of the Slovak Republic will thus be covered. Given that the Soviet-era S-300 systemʼs options for maintenance services are reduced to a minimum and service life is nearing its end, this is great news for Slovakia and, at the same time, big help for Ukraine.”

The donation of the S-300 system to Ukraine does not mean that the Slovak Republic has become part of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The defence capability of the Slovak Republic continues to be secured and will be strengthened by the fourth Patriot battery, which is due to arrive in Slovakia next week and will be deployed on Slovak territory for as long as necessary.

A video of the S-300's transit movement