Ukraine conflict: NATO enhanced Vigilance Activity battlegroup in Slovakia declared combat-ready

The NATO eVA battlegroup in Slovakia was declared combat-ready following exercise ‘Strong Cohesion' in Lešť, held from 20 to 22 September, in which Slovak BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (pictured) were part of the enemy forces. (Bundeswehr/Lars Pötzsch)

The NATO enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA) battlegroup in Slovakia was declared combat-ready following exercise ‘Strong Cohesion' in Lešť, held from 20 to 22 September. A spokesperson for the battlegroup told Janes on 23 September that the declaration was made after evaluation by an in-theatre readiness inspectionteam led by Czech Major General Petr Procházka, deputy commander of the Army of the Czech Republic's operations command.

The spokesperson said the exercise was led by the Slovak 2nd Mechanised Brigade, which provided exercise and higher control. The exercise involved 1,000 troops from the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United States.

The exercise took place in a 63 km² area and practiced defending Slovakia, with three phases after an enemy crosses the border. The first phase involved the defenders fighting a delaying action while preparing for a counter-attack by battlegroup companies mounted in armoured vehicles. The second phase was the counterattack itself, which pushed back the enemy. During the final phase, an air assault by the battlegroup's US airborne company recaptured the village following house-to-house fighting.