22.03.2023, Skopje.
North Macedonia became the first NATO member-state to transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine last year, Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska told reporters on March 22.
Earlier, Kiev had asked Skopje to donate combat helicopters. The country’s government is assessing the possibility of transferring its fleet of 12 Mi-24 attack helicopters to Ukraine
In doing so, it confirmed the information from July 2022 that Skopje had handed over to Kiev four Su-25 Frogfoot attack helicopters (three single-seat Su-25 and one double-seat Su-25UB), as well as at least eight T-72A tanks, the Serbian Herald reports.
“The donations consist of infantry weapons and ammunition, artillery equipment, tanks, aircraft, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapon systems, as well as equipment and ammunition for use in combat aviation,” Petrovska pointed out.
It is specified that the new military aid package was approved at a government meeting in Skopje on March 14, but details about the type and quantity of weapons and equipment were not disclosed.
The country has ten used Mi-24B Hind-E helicopters and two Mi-24K Hind-G2s purchased from Ukraine in 2001. Four of them are inoperative, but can be repaired. The remaining machines have been on the ground for 15 to 20 years, but can be used as a valuable source of spare parts for the Ukrainian armed units.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
