Slovakian Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad says the first multinational NATO units with the Patriot air defence systems have been moving to his country.

Nad said on Sunday the transfers will continue over the few next days.

Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to send their troops armed with the Patriots to Slovakia. The troops are some of the 2,100 soldiers from several NATO members, including the United States, who will form a battlegroup on Slovak territory as the alliance boosts its defences in its eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Nad says the Patriots will be initially deployed at the armed