The Slovakian government donated its only battery of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. The complete system was shipped into the country by train on Friday, following calls by President Volodymyr Zelensky this week for more weapons to fight the Russians. 

On Twitter, Prime Minister Eduard Heger confirmed the sending of the missiles. Heger, who has been to Ukraine and seen the effects of the war, also said that the donation does not mean that the Slovak Republic has become part of the armed conflict in Ukraine. 

I would like to confirm that #Slovakia has provided # Ukraine with an air-defense system S-300. #Ukrainian nation is #bravely defending its sovereign country and us too. It is our duty to help, not to stay put and be ignorant of the loss of human lives under #Russia's aggression.

—Eduard Heger (@eduardheger) April 8, 2022

Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, had already condemned the intentions of other countries to transfer their missiles to Ukraine, emphasizing that the contracts do not allow the donation of the S-300s to third parties. Lavrov also stressed that, if transferred, the weapons would be considered legitimate targets and attacked by Russian forces.

Slovakia, a NATO member country since March 2004, had a complete battery of the S-300PMU long-range air defense system, including 48 5V55R missiles with about 90 km of range, which it inherited from the former Czechoslovakia after the country's separation in 1993. 

The Slovak donation also marks the first transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine since the start of the conflict on February 24. 

Footage of the Slovakian S-300PMU headed to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/OewMX1UP0d

- OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 8, 2022

https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1512384495990755329

🗞️🇸🇰 Slovakia has delivered S-300 surface-to-air missile system to # Ukraine, says https://t.co/ujlJablRis #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/Xtt0kiGus9

- MilitaryLand.net (@Militarylandnet) April 8, 2022

According to Reuters, Germany and the Netherlands in March installed three batteries of the Patriot air defense system in Slovakia, which Bratislava said at the time complemented, rather than replaced, the S-300.

Bulgaria would also be willing to transfer its S-300s to the Ukrainians if it had Patriot systems installed in the country. 

German Patriot SAM on Czech highway towards Slovakia todaypic.twitter.com/T87Bxw5gmQ

- marqs (@MarQs__) March 19, 2022

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US will also deploy Patriot missiles in Slovakia in the coming days and it will be operated by US troops. Jaroslav Nad, Slovak defense minister, also confirmed the deployment of the US missiles. 

“The duration of its deployment has not yet been fixed as we continue to consult with the Slovak government on more permanent air defense solutions”Austin said in a statement.

Air & Missile Defense systems (eg S-300, S-400)=an important component of a constantly evolving RU A2/AD threat. pic.twitter.com/iSJNCh2ipb

—Dominik P. Jankowski (@dpjankowski) August 3

US President Joe Biden thanked Slovakia for sending its S-300 system to Ukraine.

“As the Russian military repositions itself for the next phase of this war, I have directed my government to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide the Ukrainian military with the advanced weapons capabilities needed to defend their country,” Biden said in a statement.