Portugal presents 6 Ka-32 firefighting helicopters to Ukraine
Portugal has handed over six Russian-made Ka-32 firefighting helicopters to Ukraine. The last truck with part of this cargo left on Friday.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to SAPO.
The Portuguese Ministry of National Defense (MDN) noted that the last transportation continued “after a long period of uncertainty and negotiations.”
In turn, the publication recalls that in October 2022, the then Minister of Defense Helena Carreiras said that the country would send six Russian fire helicopters to Ukraine, which were not licensed to operate in Portugal. Moreover, one of them crashed and was disabled.
In November 2023, more than a year after the announcement of the transfer to Ukraine, the helicopters were still in Portugal, and the previous government said it was waiting for “guidance from the Ukrainian partner on the next steps to be taken” in the process.
“After a long period of uncertainty and negotiations, the current government, through the MDN, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, agreed on the transportation of the helicopters with the Ukrainian authorities, in particular with the Ukrainian Embassy in Lisbon and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine,” the statement of September 7 read.
It is reported that Ukraine has agreed to accept the helicopters in their current condition, which means that they will not be repaired. The publication also added that the helicopters were purchased by the Portuguese government in 2006.
Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 09/09/2024
