Fico Accuses Prosecutor of Cover-Up in Ukraine Arms Donation Probe

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has sharply criticized a decision by a regional prosecutor to close investigations into the donation of fighter jets and air defense systems to Ukraine under the previous government, alleging a cover-up and questioning the country’s current air security. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of Slovakia’s shifting foreign policy under Fico, who has taken a markedly different stance on the conflict in Ukraine than his predecessor.

According to statements released on Thursday, February 5th, Fico accused Bratislava Region Prosecutor Rastislav Remet of improperly dismissing investigations into the transfer of Soviet-era MiG-29 jets and S-300 missile systems to Ukraine in 2022 and 2023. The donations were made by the then-government led by Eduard Heger as a form of military support for Kyiv.

Remet reportedly justified the closures by arguing that the weapons systems offered limited benefit to Slovakia’s national security and were costly to maintain, making their transfer a sound use of state assets. Fico vehemently rejected this reasoning, stating the systems were “donated directly from active service” and were immediately utilized by Ukraine. He further asserted that the donations left Slovakia vulnerable, requiring reliance on the air defense capabilities of neighboring Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic – a situation he deemed unacceptable for a sovereign nation.

“After the donation in violation of the law and international agreements, we were left completely naked,” Fico said, according to reports. “And to this day, our airspace is protected by Hungarian, Polish, and Czech fighters, which is not befit a sovereign country.”

The prosecutor’s decision and Fico’s subsequent reaction have ignited a political firestorm within Slovakia. Fico also linked Remet’s announcement to a press conference held by Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka, accusing Zilinka of attempting to deflect criticism of his own performance by launching political attacks against the current government. He suggested Remet was motivated by ambition to secure the prosecutor general’s office should the opposition regain power.

This dispute unfolds against a backdrop of significant shifts in Slovakia’s approach to the war in Ukraine. Since taking office, Fico has suspended official military assistance to Ukraine, criticized European Union sanctions against Russia, and rejected the prospect of Ukraine’s membership in NATO. He also recently held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a clear divergence from the policies of his predecessors.

However, despite halting official aid, Slovakia’s private arms companies have experienced a surge in exports to Ukraine. In 2024, arms exports reached €1.15 billion, representing approximately 1 percent of the country’s economy – double the figure from 2023 and ten times the amount recorded before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Deputy Defense Minister Igor Melicher has defended this apparent contradiction, stating that the government is upholding its pledge not to send weapons from state warehouses to Ukraine while respecting the principles of the free market. “The Slovak government pledged to its citizens in its manifesto that we will not send a single bullet from our state warehouses to Ukraine, and we are keeping this promise,” Melicher said in a statement. He added that Slovakia’s official assistance is now focused on non-lethal aid and critical electricity supplies.

Slovak companies are currently producing 155 mm ammunition, Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers, detection systems, and electronic warfare and communications technology. Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák recently characterized this arms production as “support for trade,” rather than support for the war itself.

The situation in Slovakia mirrors similar tensions observed in other Central European nations. The Czech Republic has also seen internal debate over continued aid to Ukraine, with a new Euroskeptic government elected in December 2025 pledging to reduce support. Both Slovakia and the Czech Republic have resisted contributing to the EU’s proposed €90 billion loan package for Ukraine.

Adding another layer of complexity, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) recently conducted searches in Bratislava as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of €7.4 million in funds designated for military aid to Ukraine. The investigation, led by European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kovesi, focuses on suspicions that senior officials within the Slovak Ministry of Defence manipulated procurement procedures and inflated prices for ammunition purchased from private companies between February and March 2022. Eight individuals, including four public officials from the Ministry of Defence, were detained.

Fico’s government, widely seen as aligned with Russia, has also faced scrutiny over its potential withdrawal from NATO, a move that would further reshape the geopolitical landscape of Central Europe. The ongoing investigations and political disputes within Slovakia highlight the growing divisions within the EU regarding the appropriate response to the conflict in Ukraine and the future of European security architecture.