Slovakia says it has sent an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian attacks. The Soviet-era S-300 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of shooting down cruise missiles and aircraft. The small Eastern European country is the first NATO member to send such advanced weapons to Ukraine.
Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger has confirmed that he has sent the S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, making it the first NATO country to respond to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s calls for a powerful missile. The S-300 is a Soviet-era long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of shooting down cruise missiles and aircraft with a range of up to 90 miles. It is considered one of the most powerful anti-aircraft missile systems and is in the arsenal of three NATO countries: Slovakia, Bulgaria and Greece. On Friday, the Slovak prime minister wrote on Facebook that the donation of the system does not mean that Slovakia, a NATO country, has become part of the armed conflict in Ukraine. Zelensky urged Western allies to send planes, tanks and defense systems to Ukraine and mentioned the S-300 during a passionate speech to Congress via video last month. “Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people,” Zelensky told Congress. “You know what kind of defense systems we need, S-300s and other similar systems.” NATO countries have begun stepping up their support for Ukraine by sending more heavy weapons as Russia continues its invasion. The Czech Republic became the first NATO country to send tanks to Ukraine earlier this week, a Czech defense source told Reuters. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told the AP on Thursday that individual NATO countries were planning to increase arms supplies to Ukraine following the recent atrocities, but gave no details. As an organization, NATO has refused to send weapons or troops to non-member Ukraine, but individual countries may choose to act. The story goes on The move follows recent reports of the deaths of at least 300 civilians in Bukha and a rocket attack on a railway station in Kramatorsk that killed at least 50 people on Friday. Zelensky warned that the planned battles in Donbas, in eastern Ukraine, could lead to the biggest war in centuries. Speaking to German newspaper BILD, owned by Axel Springer, Insider’s parent company, on Friday, Zelenskyy predicted intense fighting in the coming days. “It could be a big war in Donbass – as people have not seen in hundreds of years,” Paul Ronzheimer told BILD. “We will continue to defend our country until the end,” he said. The creepy forecast reflects what Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba told NATO members on Thursday. “The battle for Donbass will remind you of World War II,” Kuleba said. He used this warning to immediately call on Western allies to provide more heavy weapons, including air defense systems, artillery, armored vehicles and jets. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces are regrouping for a new eastern offensive in the Donbas region after failing to occupy Kyiv. President Joe Biden said on Friday that the United States supported Slovakia’s decision to send the S-300 missile system to Ukraine and was sending a US Patriot missile defense system to the Eastern European country as a replacement. “I want to thank the Slovak government for providing an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, something that President Zelensky personally raised in our talks,” Biden said. “Now is not the time for complacency,” Biden said in a statement, accusing the Russian military of committing “horrific acts of violence.” Read the original article in Business Insider
