Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár spoke with German counterpart Annalena Baerbock about expanding the Ukrainian military equipment repair center situated on Slovak soil. The discussion, reported by the TA3 television channel, highlighted Bratislava’s interest in increasing the facility’s capacity to service Ukrainian arms and equipment already in use or destined for use in the region.
Officials disclosed that Slovakia intends to widen the eastern Ukrainian repair enterprise and bolster its role in supporting maintenance, diagnostics, and refurbishment of defense equipment. The plan reflects Slovakia’s participation in a broader European security framework while managing the practicalities of hosting a center that serves partner forces beyond its own armed forces.
Blanár also stated that Slovakia would stop providing military supplies to Ukraine from its own army reserves. This shift signals a rebalancing of Bratislava’s direct ammunition and matériel contributions, while the country continues to engage in international efforts to support Ukraine through other avenues, including specialized facilities and collaborative maintenance programs.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment repair center operates at a Slovak Army facility in Michalovce. It began operations toward the end of 2022 and was slated for full completion in 2023. Reports indicate that Germany financed the project and Slovakia supplied the premises and infrastructure to house the operation, underscoring a cooperative approach to sustaining Ukrainian defense needs through bilateral and European funding mechanisms.
On March 23, 2023, it emerged that Ukraine received the first four MiG-29 fighter jets out of a planned thirteen from Slovakia. Russia condemned the move as a violation of Slovakia’s international obligations regarding the re-export of weapons. Dmitry Shugaev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said Moscow would seek a resolution by pursuing the re-export of the MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine, highlighting ongoing diplomatic tensions tied to arms transfers in the region.
Earlier reporting noted that Slovakia did not have the capacity to provide substantial military assistance to Ukraine on its own. The evolving stance, including the focus on repair and maintenance facilities and selective equipment transfers, reflects Slovakia’s careful navigation of defense commitments within the broader context of European security cooperation and national considerations.