Opposition parties are criticizing the Slovak government for providing the S-300 air-defence system to Ukraine. Former PM Robert Fico of Smer-SD called it an act of war with unimaginable consequences for Slovakia. Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok stressed that this is a defence system unlike Russian offensive weapons. “It does not endanger anyone; let Russia end the war, stop attacking Ukraine, and there will be no debate about this defense system, reacted Korčok.
The extra-parliamentary Slovak National Party called on Prime Minister Eduard Heger to resign immediately due to this decision claiming that Heger is the first Slovak PM to threaten its security in an unprecedented manner. Analyst Vladimír Bednár said that giving the S-300 air-defence system to Ukraine does not endanger Slovakia's security. As a replacement, Slovakia received the Patriot defence system from its NATO allies. Thanks to it, the country's air defence is currently at a much higher level than Slovakia would have been able to ensure on its own at any time before, claimed Bednár.
According to the opposition Voice-SD party, by transferring the equipment the Government has deceived the Slovak public. Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď explained that the operation was confidential. He apologized to the public for not providing information about it, stressing that he did so with the good intention of ensuring the safe transport of the system. According to Naď, opposition Smer-SD party leader Robert Fico revealed the information on S-300 at the time when the system was already in Ukraine. However, he thinks that the opposition politician threatened the operation and acted as if instructed by Moscow.
On Sunday, Russia claimed it had destroyed the S-300 system provided by Slovakia. "Russian propaganda is spreading lies. Let me point out that this is false information and that the related pictures and videos date back to the past," reacted Heger, claiming that the Ukrainians have confirmed for Slovakia that the claim is disinformation.
On Monday, Freedom and Solidarity MP Ján Benčík filed a criminal complaint Fico over his Facebook post in which he released video footage capturing the recent transport of Slovakia's S-300 missile system to Ukraine before it was publicly announced and confirmed by the Government that the transfer had actually happened. According to Benčík, the complaint concerns suspicions of espionage and of jeopardising classified and confidential information.
In Benčík's opinion, Fico could have potentially put the Slovak soldiers and railway workers who participated in the transport of the system to Ukraine in danger. Benčík pointed to recent claims by Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, who stated that if any country decides to provide systems of this kind to Ukraine, Russia will not allow this and these systems will become legitimate military targets for Moscow.
According to the Defence Minister, Slovakia is currently holding talks with Ukraine on selling Zuzana howitzers and repairing damaged combat vehicles, he said on Sunday.
Source: TASR
