{
  "id": 17251162,
  "title": "Slovakia reopens criminal case over donation of fighter jets, air defense systems to Ukraine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/slovakia-reopens-criminal-case-over-donation-of-fighter-jets-air",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:26:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/slovakia-reopens-criminal-case-over-fighter-jet-air-defense-systems-donation-to-ukraine/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 30th, Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka announced the reopening of a criminal case against former Prime Minister Eduard Heger and former Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad. The case centers around their decision to donate Slovakia's MiG-29 fighter jets and Soviet-era KUB air defense systems to Ukraine in 2023. Heger served as Slovakia's caretaker prime minister at the time, approving the transfer of 13 MiG-29 jets and parts of the KUB systems to Ukraine in March of that year. The MiG-29 is a fourth-generation fighter jet designed for air superiority and front-line defense, while the KUB is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Slovakia became the first country to send fighter aircraft to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Prime Minister Robert Fico, seen as sympathetic to Moscow, has criticized Western military aid to Ukraine, including the defense assistance provided by the Slovak government. The defense ministry accused Heger and Nad of sabotage, abuse of power, and mismanagement of public property, claims both have denied. Current Defense Minister Robert Kalinak further accused Heger of treason. Initially, the investigation was closed by Bratislava regional prosecutor Rastislav Remeta in February, but Zilinka reopened the case on October 30, stating that the previous investigation was premature due to insufficient evidence. Zilinka reassigned prosecutorial supervision to a regional prosecutor in Trencin to ensure a thorough review of the evidence.",
  "summary": "Slovakia's Prosecutor General Maros Zilinka said on Oct. 30 that he had reopened a criminal case against former Prime Minister Eduard Heger and former Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad over their decision to donate Slovakia's fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets and Soviet-era KUB air defense systems to Ukraine in spring 2023.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}