Czech Republic sends special operations helicopters to Poland

Prague is deploying three special operations helicopters to Poland, according to the Czech Ministry of Defence website. 

The aircraft are modified Mi-171SZ helicopters, known under the NATO codename Hip-L, equipped for countering low-altitude drones, the ministry stated, Caliber.Az reports.

The deployment follows a phone conversation between Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová. Up to 150 Czech troops will accompany the helicopters, with the mission expected to last approximately three months.

The deployment falls under a mandate allowing Prague to send up to 2,000 troops to strengthen NATO’s eastern border in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Czech forces are currently operating under this mandate in Slovakia, Lithuania, and Latvia.

By Khagan Isayev