Slovakia refuses to arm Ukraine, but Slovak-made shells still reach the Ukrainian Armed Forces – Bloomberg

Shells from Slovakia, which has officially refused to provide military aid to Kyiv, are ending up in Ukraine despite Bratislava’s intentions.

This was reported by Bloomberg, citing Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák.

“While the Slovak government refuses to arm Ukraine, Slovak-produced shells ultimately end up there. The government does not have full control over where the shells go, as buyers themselves decide what to do with the ammunition they purchase,” the report states.

According to the Slovak Defense Minister, Bratislava is increasing the production of defense products to maintain its gross domestic product (GDP) — with plans to produce 125,000 shells by the end of 2024 and 200,000 in 2025.

Kaliňák emphasized that the government’s political stance involves a ban on military assistance to Ukraine, as such assistance would imply support for the armed conflict.

Previously, it was reported that the Slovak Ministry of Defense intends to initiate criminal proceedings for treason against former Prime Minister Eduard Heger and former Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď for allegedly illegally transferring military equipment to Ukraine. This concerns the delivery of MiG-29 fighters and Kub air defense systems to Ukraine in 2023.