The Czech Republic has experienced several cyber and physical attacks linked to foreign adversaries, most notably Russia. “Operations in cyberspace are also linked to direct assaults on entities within our country,” a Czech official stated. He cited a specific example from September when threatening emails warned of explosive devices targeting schools in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. According to the official, these threats had discernible ties to Russia.
“We are witnessing a form of globalization of malevolence, where nations in the so-called ‘axis of evil’—Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea—are cooperating, supporting, and assisting one another in achieving their objectives. This creates a very serious and dangerous situation,” said Michal Koudelka, head of the Czech Security Information Service (BIS).
Russian intelligence agents have been involved in several notorious incidents in the Czech Republic over the years. In 2021, the Czech government expelled 18 Russian diplomats following revelations by Czech intelligence that Russia was responsible for a deadly explosion in 2014.
More recently, in June 2023, Czech authorities blamed Russia for attempting an arson attack on a bus depot. Additionally, the country remains on heightened alert regarding school safety after a tragic university shooting in Prague in December 2023, which resulted in 14 deaths and 25 injuries.
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