Slovak MiG-29 fighters already protecting skies over Kharkiv, says official
MiG-29 (Photo:REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo)
The first four Soviet MiG-29 fighter jets that Slovakia handed over to Ukraine are already protecting the skies over the city of Kharkiv, Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Olena Kondratiuk said on March 29.
“On behalf of all Ukrainians whose lives are protected by the Air Force, I express my great thanks to you,” she said during her address to the Slovak parliament.
Kondratiuk also thanked Bratislava for all of the humanitarian aid, weapons, other equipment it had provided, and for supporting Ukraine at the international level.
In addition, the deputy speaker reiterated that Slovakia had recognized Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. She also thanked Bratislava for its readiness to establish an international tribunal to prosecute Russian war criminals.
Slovakia handed over its first four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine on March 23.
Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that Warsaw could give all its MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. According to open sources, Poland has 22 such jets.
However, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński said on March 27 that Poland would not transfer all its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said that providing Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets would be a major help, but they are unlikely to be a game-changer at the front.
Ukraine needs modern multi-purpose aircraft to gain air superiority and strike ground targets, said Ihnat.
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