Defense Ministry prepared to send special operations helicopter unit to Poland

In response to the latest act of Russian aggression, the Czech Republic is prepared to send a special operations helicopter unit to Poland, the Defense Ministry announced Wednesday evening. The deployment would include three specially modified Mi-171Š helicopters. According to the ministry, Warsaw requested the support following a phone call between Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová (Spolu) and her Polish counterpart Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz earlier in the day. The helicopters would help the Polish army defend against low-flying drones. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Spolu) said Czech aircraft could begin supporting the defense of European airspace within days.