Apparently, the Czech Republic also delivered attack helicopters to Ukraine.

This emerges from a statement by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Austin said on Monday evening, following a virtual conference of more than 40 countries on arms deliveries to Ukraine, he particularly thanked Denmark and the Czech Republic.

The Danes have therefore supplied coastal defense technology, the Czechs tanks, howitzers, rocket launchers and combat helicopters.

The latter had not yet reached the public.

The government in Prague generally keeps a low profile on the details of arms deliveries to Ukraine and declined to comment further on Austin's remarks.

Stephen Lowenstein

Political correspondent based in Vienna.

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The Czech armed forces have around 50 Soviet-designed helicopters that Ukrainian pilots can potentially handle.

Among them are 17 armored and heavily armed Mi-24 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, also known by the NATO designation "Hind" like "Hirschhauh".

Prague needs new helicopters anyway

Czech media recently reported that the Soviet-era helicopters will be almost impossible to service and maintain in the future because no spare parts are sourced from Russia due to the Ukraine war and EU sanctions.

They are to be replaced by American Venom (support helicopters) and Viper (attack helicopters) helicopters.

A total of twelve of these were ordered in 2020, and Defense Minister Jana Černochová promised further orders after the start of the Ukraine war.

The media had already widely reported on the delivery of T-72 tanks and other heavy equipment, not least because the main battle tanks will be replaced by German Leopard 2s according to an agreement between Prague and Berlin.

The fact that combat helicopters are said to have gone to Ukraine is new.

Černochová tweeted that she welcomed Austin's appreciation of the Czech Republic.

But as a matter of principle she would not describe the aid to Ukraine in more detail.

"I just want to remind you that there is almost certainly a lot of things that will fit and will fit in my armored handbag."

A total of more than 40 countries took part in the switching conference, including all members of the European Union and NATO.

Among them were neutral EU members like Austria and Ireland, but also representatives from countries like Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo and Colombia.

A spokesman for the Austrian Ministry of Defence, which was represented by a senior official, said when asked by the FAZ that they had "taken part as a listening observer" in order to be informed, but had not offered anything.

A first, somewhat smaller group had already met at the end of April at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany at Austin's invitation; further follow-up conferences are planned every four weeks.