Euractiv: Russian technicians ruined MiG-29 engines for Ukraine
Russian technicians may have deliberately sabotaged the maintenance of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets belonging to the Slovak army. This was stated by the Minister of Defense of the Republic Yaroslav Nay.
Twin-engine fighters were at the disposal of Slovakia after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Bratislava hasn't used them since, and handed them over to Ukraine in August 2022.
“They could fly, but that doesn't mean they were also capable of fighting. The Ukrainians arrived in Slovakia a week before departure, brought spare parts and inspected the planes,” Nay explained.
In his opinion, the planes turned out to be out of order due to the actions of Russian technicians, who until last year were at the Slovak base Sliach . Even the police were involved in the investigation, which, however, could not prove malicious intent.
The minister explained that the aircraft engines contained parts that were available only to Russians. Defects appeared only on them.
Lieutenant General Lubomir Svoboda, a former pilot of the highest rank, also suggested that the Russians intentionally damaged the planes. He explained that the aircraft engines had to work 350 hours. As a result, the planes flew only 70 hours.
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