The Czech Security and Information Service will investigate local companies suspected of supplying Russia with equipment for weapons production, according to spokesperson Ladislav Štícha, as reported by iRozhlas.
The probe follows claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who identified eight Czech companies potentially exporting machine tools to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Štícha stated that once the list of companies is received from Ukraine, the service will launch an investigation into their activities and suppliers. He noted that much of the export of now-embargoed goods occurred before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when sanctions were not yet in place.
“However, it is almost certain that this would not involve direct exports from the Czech Republic to Russia, as that would require a license, and such goods could not legally cross the border,” Štícha said.He suggested the equipment may have been supplied before 2022 or re-exported through third countries.
Štícha highlighted that many companies apply for export licenses to “safe” countries, including EU states, pledging that the buyer is the end user. However, goods are sometimes resold and re-exported to Russia via intermediaries.The spokesperson also pointed to a lack of resources and personnel to effectively combat illegal exports.
Media reports have previously indicated that Czech companies, in violation of sanctions, supplied Russian arms manufacturers with critical components, including machine tools used for producing cruise and ballistic missiles. These tools can serve both civilian and military purposes.