Czech govt unveils details of covert Ukraine arms program
The Czech government has revealed details of a multibillion scheme to supply munitions to Ukraine launched under the previous cabinet in Prague, which funneled some $13 billion worth of goods to Kiev.
The program, criticized for its lack of transparency by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who took office in December, was launched under former Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Babis’ office disclosed details about the controversial scheme amid disagreement within the ruling coalition over his decision to extend the program.
The equivalent of 280 billion crowns passed through Czech companies under the initiative, most of it from foreign sponsors, Babis told reporters after a cabinet meeting, citing a report from the national military cooperation agency.
“The Czech budget had secretly put 17.1 billion [crowns] ($822 million) into the weapons. All of it was hidden, it was all super secret,” the prime minister added. Fiala rebuked Babis, claiming he “does not know what he is doing” and accusing him of “endangering the safety of people and companies involved.”
Launched in 2024, the Czech program funneled 1.2 million shells to Ukraine that year and an additional 1.8 million in 2025. Last week, Babis announced the scheme would continue with Prague only playing the role of an intermediary.
The decision put him at odds with Tomi Okamura, chairman of the SPD party, which is part of the three-way ruling coalition. In his New Year’s address, Okamura blasted the Ukrainian government as a corrupt “junta” and said the Czech Republic should not support a “completely senseless war” in any way.
The Czech parliament is scheduled to hold a confidence vote at Babis’ request this week, which depends on SPD votes to succeed. The prime minister is meeting SPD lawmakers Tuesday to rally support for his position. SPD Deputy Chairman Radim Fiala said the party would prefer the initiative be abolished entirely.
Moscow has long said that no amount of Western military aid will help Ukraine achieve a strategic victory over Russia, as Western governments intended.
