The General Staff of North Macedonia agreed to the transfer of Mi-24 helicopters to Ukraine

The government of North Macedonia will consider the decision to transfer Mi-24 helicopters to Ukraine on March 29 after the General Staff has worked on the proposal.

Slavjanka Petrovska, Minister of Defense of North Macedonia, announced this on the air of the 360 degrees program on the Alsat TV channel.

She emphasized that this decision will not affect the combat capability of the army of North Macedonia.

“All the equipment that has been transferred so far, apart from the fact that it is at the request of the Ukrainians, they need it, and it is equipment that the Ukrainian army is skillfully using. This is equipment that, according to our plans, is reaching the end of its service life,” said Slavjanka Petrovska, Minister of Defense of North Macedonia.

These will be 12 Mi-24s that the country bought from Ukraine in 2001. Some of them have not been in service for some time.

According to Defense24, four helicopters underwent modernization, completed in cooperation with the Elbit Systems company.

They are adapted for interaction with NATO forces and received new avionics that allows the use of night vision goggles and the Aviators night vision system. A modern navigation system, infrared lighting, and “other minor upgrades” have also been added.

Currently, North Macedonia operates only two such Mi-24s.

Recently, information appeared that Ukraine asked North Macedonia for Mi-24 helicopters.

Slavjanka Petrovska also reported that the country will purchase new multi-purpose helicopters, namely 8 units of equipment.

So far, the country has received five offers from different states and companies. An analytical group evaluates potential contracts, and a decision could be made as early as April.

It is assumed that the helicopters that North Macedonia will purchase will be used both in the defense sector and will be involved in rescue operations of the civilian population.

The Minister of Defense added that over the past year, the country has provided €30 million in military aid to Ukraine.