Czech Republic to hand over attack helicopters and artillery shells to Ukraine
7 July, 2023 Czech Mi-24. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic The Czech Republic will hand over attack helicopters and artillery ammunition to the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The country will also take part in the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighter jets and will provide flight simulators. Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala made such a statement during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky in Prague today. "Today I confirmed to Mr.
President that the Czech Republic is donating attack helicopters and another 100,000 rounds of large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine," the Prime Minister said. Fiala also promised that his country would help Ukraine in the development of the F-16 fighter jets, as well as provide Ukraine with flight simulators. "We will take part in pilot training, we will also provide simulators so that pilots can train in Ukraine," the Czech Prime Minister said.
In addition, Ukraine and the Czech Republic can significantly strengthen the cooperation of their defense industries. "Today, we have spoken in detail not only about the supply but also the new production, and it is very important. Our states can significantly strengthen cooperation of defense industries, and will do so.
We discussed specific projects on ammunition, military equipment," Volodymyr Zelensky said. Mi-24/35 attack helicopters, which are currently being decommissioned by the Czech army, are likely to be handed over to Ukraine. They will be replaced by American Venom and Viper aircraft.
Mi-24 of the Czech army.
Photo from open sources
It is also known that in May 2022 the Czech Republic transferred its attack helicopters to Ukraine. It regards two Mi-24 helicopters, but there could be more of them.
BMP-1 and T-72M1 tanks of the Czech Republic. April 2022.
Photo credits: Ondrej Benesik
Petr Fiala also notes that the Czech Republic has already transferred almost 700 units of heavy equipment and more than four million different types of ammunition to Ukraine since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine and the Czech Republic on cooperation in the defense industry, July 7, 2023. Photo credits: Ukrinform
On Friday, Ukraine and the Czech Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine have agreed on cooperation in the field of defense industry.
The document was signed in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala.