**Germany to Move Equipment Repair Center from Slovakia**
Germany plans to close a repair center for Ukrainian military equipment in Slovakia. The move could affect the speed and efficiency of repairing damaged vehicles.
The decision was made after long talks between Germany and Slovakia. Slovakia’s new government is closer to Russia, making it harder to work together on some projects. This caused problems with repairs at the Slovak center.
The German Ministry of Defense wants to relocate the repair hub to Germany by December 31. A spokesperson said the move is due to changing conditions and complex repair work needed for damaged vehicles.
**Repair Center in Slovakia**
The repair center in Slovakia has been operating since late 2022. It fixes various military equipment, including self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles, and artillery systems.
However, the center’s operating procedures have caused issues. The German Ministry of Defense said Slovakia was sometimes difficult to work with.
**Complications and Competition**
Germany had previously considered opening a repair center in Poland near the Ukrainian border. However, Poland wanted its own company to handle repairs, which Germany rejected due to competitive reasons.
The choice of Slovakia as the repair location has also caused problems. Earlier this year, disagreements between Germany and Slovakia led to delays in delivering weapons to Ukraine.
**Other Repair Facilities**
There are other German industry repair facilities in Lithuania and Ukraine that will continue to operate. The relocation of the Slovak center is expected to have a significant impact on repairing damaged equipment for Ukrainian forces.