According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Press and Information Department, the handover ceremony of the aircraft on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin was held in the town of Kosica on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Slovakian National Rebellion, which will be widely marked in Slovakia on the day of its outbreak August 29.
"This unique exhibit reconstructed by Russian Rusavia company has passed flight tests and will now stay in the Kosica museum among combat materiel of other countries", reads the Foreign Ministry's press release.
Accepting the gift Slovakian ex-president Rudolf Schuster, who initiated the unique collection of air materiel, expressed sincere gratitude to the Russian head of state for the valuable exhibit.
Mr. Schuster reminded the audience about the Red Army's decisive contribution to liberating Slovakia from Nazism, active participation of our compatriots in the popular uprising, who together with citizens of other countries shoulder to shoulder fought among its soldiers.
"The traditions of brotherly cooperation laid in that period still remain an inexhaustible source of fruitful Russian-Slovakian cooperation in the interests of our nations, world and stability on the European continent," reads the Foreign Ministry's press release.
During the bygone war the Po-2 aircraft were engaged in the most versatile missions: they conducted air reconnaissance, delivered mail and priority messages, evacuated wounded personnel. These aircraft were used as night bombers, piloted by female aviators. It was these aircraft that airlifted guerilla groups and delivered armaments, ammunition, medical supplies and equipment during the Slovakian National Rebellion, reminded the Russian Foreign Ministry.
