Czech Republic's military support for Ukraine dwindling, reveals defense minister
8:22 AM EST, November 27, 2023
The Czech Republic reveals its dwindling capacity to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. "We don't have many resources left in our military warehouses to send to Ukraine," Defense Minister Jana Czernochova admitted on Sunday.
Czernochova, the head of the Czech Defense Ministry, asserted that state aid isn't the only form of support to Ukraine from Prague. She highlighted that private firms and donors continue to secure export licenses.
The Defense Minister also mentioned the training of more than 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year — either in the Czech Republic or in Poland by Czech instructors. She reassured the continuation of such assistance.
According to Czernochova, the Czech Republic can utilize their spare production capacities to assist Ukraine via private companies and foreign funds. She gave an example of around 50 infantry fighting vehicles, 2,500 pistols, 7,000 rifles, 500 light machine guns, and 500 sniper rifles, which were sent to Ukraine funded by Danish aid.
Russia shifts equipment from Kaliningrad to Ukraine, reports suggest
The British defense ministry reported unusual Russian air transport activity in November, suggesting the likely relocation of strategic air defense systems from the Kaliningrad region to replenish recent losses in Ukraine.
The daily intelligence update recorded increasing losses of SA-21 air defense systems in the Russia-occupied region of Ukraine towards the end of October.
The report further discussed Russia's perception of the Kaliningrad region. Bordered on three sides by NATO member countries, including Poland, Russia considers this westernmost outpost, one of its most strategically sensitive regions. "The Russian defense ministry's apparent willingness to assume additional risk in this location underscores the strain the conflict with Ukraine has imposed on some of Russia's key modern capabilities," the report noted.
