Slovakia’s chief prosecutor has ordered a new criminal investigation into the 2023 transfer of 12 MiG-29 jets and KUB air-defense systems to Ukraine, returning a contested military decision to legal scrutiny.
Maros Zilinka said on Facebook Friday, Oct. 30, that the earlier inquiry had closed before investigators gathered enough information to reach a decision. The previous probe ended in February 2026.
Bratislava regional prosecutor Rastislav Remeta said the MiG-29s and KUB systems were outdated and not fully operational; he also cited a lack of pilots and missiles. Remeta said the transfer did not constitute a crime. Jaroslav Nad, Slovakia’s defense minister at the time, has denied wrongdoing.
Reuters reported that Prime Minister Robert Fico has said the transfer left Slovakia reliant on allied air patrols. An unnamed senior official in Fico’s party called it sabotage, Reuters reported. The news agency also reported that Fico’s government repeatedly criticized the donation and ended military aid to Ukraine.
Reuters described the dispute as part of Slovakia’s political divisions and reported that Fico has accused his predecessors of pursuing criminal cases against his party when it was in opposition.
