Czechia to probe companies possibly helping Russia with arms equipment for war in Ukraine
Czech companies may be supplying Russia with weapons manufacturing machinery (Illustrative photo: Šmeral Brno)
The Czech Security and Information Service (BIS) will investigate Czech companies that may be exporting equipment for weapons manufacturing to Russia, states BIS spokesperson Ladislav Štícha.
“As soon as we receive the list, we will check the companies and transactions,” he stated.
At the same time, Štícha emphasized that BIS currently does not have specific company names and suggested that most of the operations are not direct exports to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that eight Czech and thirteen German firms supply Russia with machinery for weapons production. He called for sanctions but did not name the companies.
Štícha explained that some of these deliveries might have taken place before the full-scale invasion in 2022 or through third countries.
According to him, the Czech Security and Information Service (BIS) records dozens of attempts to bypass sanctions every year but faces a shortage of resources.
“Only several dozen government experts are working against hundreds of companies attempting to export sanctioned equipment to Russia,” the spokesperson noted.
Export of machinery to Russia
Russia continues to receive Czech equipment for its defense industry, including through indirect routes. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that he does not know which specific companies are involved.
According to The Insider, in 2024 alone, equipment from about 12 Czech manufacturers reached Russia, with shipments routed through Estonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Latvia. The volume of Czech machinery imports to Russia amounted to $18 million in 2023 and $12 million so far in 2024.
