The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Media: Czechia sends Ukraine its last Soviet Mi-24 helicopters

by Kateryna Hodunova March 22, 2024 9:47 AM 2 min read
A Mi-24 helicopter flies over the Pardubice army airport during the 25th ''Aviation fair'' airshow at Pardubice airpot in Pardubice city on June 7, 2015. (Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Czechia provided Ukraine with the last of its Soviet Mi-24 attack helicopters, the Czech media outlet Denik N reported on March 21, citing Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova.

Cernochova announced in August 2023 that Czechia may supply Ukraine with Mi-24 helicopters, as the Czech military is replacing them with newer U.S. models. The minister said that the aircraft provided excellent service, even though they have been in use "longer than expected."

Prague donated several of its Mi-24 helicopters to Ukraine in the previous years without specifying their number.

Cernochova now clarified that together with the latest donation, Prague had supplied Ukraine with eight Mi-24 helicopters in total. Denik N noted that the Czech military previously operated 17 units, and it remains unclear what happened with the remaining ones.

The Czech government secretly approved sending the last Mi-24 attack helicopters two weeks ago, according to Denik N.

Cernochova said this helicopter supply would be the last piece sent to Ukraine from the Czech military's own stocks, as "no more military equipment could be donated."

Earlier, Czechia launched an initiative to collect artillery shells for Ukraine to alleviate its critical ammunition shortage on the front line as a $60 billion aid package from the U.S. remains stalled in Congress.

Prague had identified 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside of Europe and started to gather a coalition of states to purchase them for Ukraine.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on March 12 that the initiative has already secured the purchase of 300,000 shells and received nonbinding commitments for 200,000 more.

Dutch defense minister: You don’t start negotiations with gun pointed at your head
Europe needs to make great strides in increasing the capacity of its defense industry, and can only do this by working together within the EU and with Ukraine, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren told the Kyiv Independent on March 20. The ammunition initiative, launched by Czechia in February am…

News Feed

8:06 AM  (Updated: )

Zelensky visits South Africa but cuts trip short after mass Russian strike.

"We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We will also certainly strengthen our cultural and educational ties," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
5:30 AM

Trump says he may meet Putin 'shortly' after May Middle East visit.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump's last in-person encounter with his Russian counterpart was during the 2018 Helsinki Summit during the U.S. president's first term.
8:08 PM

Ukrainians react to US proposal of recognizing Crimea as Russian.

The U.S. media outlet Axios reported on April 23 that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included the U.S. de jure recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and de facto recognizing its control of other occupied Ukrainian territories. We asked Kyiv residents for their reactions to the U.S. proposal.
7:21 PM  (Updated: )

Trump says 'nobody is asking' Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.