Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Czech aid to Ukraine is set to grow after new commitments from Prague that include fresh military packages and a firm response to Russia’s attempt to intimidate Czech leaders. The plans were announced following meetings between Denys Shmyhal and Czech officials, as Moscow placed the Czech foreign minister on its so-called “Russophobe” list.

Czech aid to Ukraine focuses on anti-air and ammunition

On 30 July, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Tomáš Pojar, an adviser to the Czech prime minister, to discuss urgent needs for Ukraine’s armed forces. Shmyhal said their talks centered on air defense, electronic warfare and long-range capabilities. He explained that particular focus was on ammunition supply, as the Czech initiative to secure artillery shells of key calibers has become an important source for Ukraine.

According to Shmyhal, the discussions covered specific schedules and plans for supplies for the rest of this year and 2026. They also reviewed cooperation between defense industries. He said that joint enterprises are already working and some projects are underway. These include the production of shells and Bren 2 rifles in Ukraine.

The Czech delegation and Ukrainian officials also analyzed possibilities for new projects in Czechia that would involve leading Ukrainian companies. These projects are intended to support Ukraine’s defense forces in the face of Russia’s ongoing war.

Moscow’s blacklist sparks Czech response

Meanwhile, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský responded after the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added him to a published list of so-called “Russophobic” politicians.

In his comments to ČTK, Lipavský said he does not use hate speech against Russia but stands firmly against the imperial policies of Vladimir Putin. He added that his criticism targets Putin, his ideology, the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine, and sabotage acts even in Czechia.

Lipavský emphasized that his stance on Putin’s aggression would not change and that his plans for a future holiday in Crimea remain unaffected. He repeated that “Crimea is Ukraine” and that the Kremlin’s ban on his entry to Russia has no effect on him. This hints on the future liberation of the Crimean Peninsula, occupied by the Russians since 2014.

UK intelligence has exposed how Russian GRU sabotage units have carried out a global campaign of subversion, disinformation, and covert attacks. In its 23 July defense intelligence update, the British Defense Ministry has named the Russian units and outlined their years-long operations across Europe, Africa, and Ukraine.

On 18 July, the UK sanctioned three Russian GRU units and one interference agency, along with 18 military intelligence officers, for targeting the UK, its allies, and Ukraine. 

British report reveals global GRU operations

According to the UK Defense Ministry’s Intelligence update published on 23 July 2025, Russia is “escalating its global campaign to subvert its adversaries and increase Russian influence.”

“Whilst Russian military intelligence (GRU) is at the forefront of these efforts, Russia has also turned to an increasing variety of non-state actors to conduct a full spectrum of overt to covert activities, including espionage, assassination, sabotage, and electronic, cyber and information operations,” the update reads.

The UK identified Unit 29155, also known as the 161st Specialist Training Center, as a key actor. Its cyber wing launched the WhisperGate attack—deploying destructive malware—in Ukraine in 2022. The wider unit was behind multiple sabotage and assassination operations, including the 2018 attempted murder of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, the 2011 ammunition warehouse bombing in Bulgaria, and a 2014 blast in Czechia.

Unit 26165, or the 85th Main Special Services Center, has run widespread espionage operations. It also provided targeting intelligence for Russian missile strikes, including the 2022 bombing of the Mariupol theater that killed hundreds of civilians, including children.

Unit 74455, part of the Main Center for Special Technologies, has carried out cyberattacks on democratic elections, national infrastructure, and financial control systems.

The fourth entity, the African Initiative, is a Kremlin-linked interference agency. UK intelligence says it conducts information operations in Africa, including the spread of conspiracy theories aimed at undermining global health efforts.

Three Czech citizens who publicly questioned media coverage of the Russo-Ukrainian war and supported Russia’s position have traveled to eastern Ukraine as part of a documentary film project that aimed at showing them the reality of Russian aggression.

The participants, two men and one woman, had previously dismissed the war as a “special operation” and promoted conspiracy theories about media collusion, according to Gromada.

One participant stated at the beginning of the film’s trailer that “pointing a finger at Russia and saying it’s an aggressor and guilty is extraordinary stupidity.”

Another claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “travels the world and begs for money so someone will finance his war.”

Director Robin Kvapil initiated the project by issuing a public call on social media for skeptics to witness the situation directly. The three volunteers agreed to travel from Prague to Kharkiv and cities in the Donbas region. Reality struck quickly—literally.

Psychiatrist was involved for support when seeing harsh realities of war

The group experienced rocket attacks during filming.

They interviewed wounded civilians in hospitals.

They walked through mass burial sites.

They descended into metro stations converted into underground schools where children study between air raid sirens.

The film crew documented the participants’ reactions throughout these encounters. The production included security analyst Petr Pojman, psychiatrist Petr Pjote, and translator Lucie Řehošíková, who previously directed the Czech Center in Kyiv.

Was the psychological support necessary? Given that participants had spent months believing the war was staged, witnessing actual destruction required professional guidance.

The filming also required coordination with both the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukraine’s Security Service due to security concerns.

The Great Patriotic Trip premieres 21 August

The resulting documentary, “Velký vlastenecký výlet” (“The Great Patriotic Trip”), premieres 21 August. The title carries deliberate irony—borrowing Soviet-era language for a journey that challenges Russian propaganda narratives.

Can one trip change minds shaped by months of conspiracy theories? The film will reveal whether firsthand experience trumps social media disinformation.

However, the broader question remains: how many others refuse to believe what’s happening in Ukraine until they see destroyed buildings and grieving families themselves?

Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor Pastor Mark Burns followed a similar trajectory after visiting Bucha on 31 March. The former vocal Ukraine aid opponent called Putin “pure evil” following his tour of war crime sites.

Deeply affected by witnessing evidence of Russian atrocities, destruction of religious sites, and hearing testimonies from religious leaders, Burns called for increased military support for Ukraine and dismissed prior allegations that Ukraine restricts religious organizations.

He stressed that supporting Ukraine is a matter of humanitarian urgency above politics, highlighting Russian attacks on civilians and churches and urging fellow Republicans to reconsider their stance. 

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The fully funded Czech howitzer campaign will deliver six D-30s to Ukraine’s front line. Though organizers initially announced they were nearing their goal, current donation totals confirm that the €2.4 million target has now been reached.

Donors complete €2.4 million fundraiser for Ukraine-bound howitzers

The Czech volunteer campaign Dárek pro Putina (“A Gift for Putin”) earlier reported it was close to securing funds for six 122 mm D-30 howitzers.

“We have already raised funds for five howitzers! We are missing the last one,” the campaign said during the final stretch of the drive.

Now, according to publicly visible totals on the official donation platform, the group has fully met its €2.4 million objective.

Over 16,000 contributors donated to the effort. The weapons, already secured and available, are expected to be transferred promptly to the Ukrainian military with logistical support from the Embassy of Ukraine in Prague.

“This is almost a miracle given the current situation, as most weapons require months of waiting,” the fundraiser’s page reads.

The Soviet-designed D-30 (2A18) is a reliable platform with a maximum range of 15.4 km—or 21.9 km when using rocket-assisted projectiles. It can fire to 12 rounds per minute.

Not their first delivery

Militarnyi noted the same Czech campaign previously raised funds for a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, and eventually delivered it.

In earlier efforts, Dárek pro Putina also delivered 1,000 RPG-75M anti-tank rocket launchers after raising over €900,000 in under two months. The group has additionally provided 10 tons of explosives for a Ukrainian special police unit and continues to collect funds for FPV drones and gear for female military personnel.

The campaign’s updates and donation records can be tracked via their official website.

A global law enforcement campaign has dealt a blow to the pro-Russian cyber army known as NoName057(16). Europol confirmed that about 20 countries helped dismantle the network behind thousands of attacks on Ukraine’s supporters.

Europol targets ideological cyber group tied to Russia’s war

Europol reported that between 14 and 17 July, authorities from 12 countries launched Operation Eastwood. Europol and Eurojust coordinated the joint crackdown. The effort reportedly dismantled major parts of the pro-Russian cyber army’s infrastructure, including hundreds of systems.

Germany issued six arrest warrants for suspects based in Russia. Two are accused of leading the group’s activities. Spain issued another arrest warrant. France and Spain also reported one arrest each. All suspects are internationally wanted.

Authorities carried out 24 house searches and questioned 13 individuals across Europe. In Spain alone, 12 searches took place. Investigators also notified over 1,000 individuals believed to support the cyber group. Fifteen of them were administrators.

Attacks tied to political and military events across Europe

Other attacks struck during the European elections. Swedish government and banking websites were affected. In Switzerland, NoName057(16) launched attacks in June 2023, during a speech by Ukraine’s president to the Joint Parliament. Another wave occurred in June 2024 during the Peace Summit for Ukraine at Bürgenstock.

The most recent attack linked to the group targeted the NATO summit held in the Netherlands in June 2025. Europol notes that although the attacks caused disruption attempts, none led to substantial outages.

Recruitment tactics built on crypto rewards and gamified propaganda

Europol identifies NoName057(16) as an ideological cyber network that operated without formal leadership. The group recruited mostly Russian-speaking sympathizers, many with little technical knowledge. Its structure relied heavily on gamified propaganda and incentives.

Volunteers received cryptocurrency payments and recognition through online shout-outs, badges, and leaderboards. Europol notes this method especially appealed to younger users who felt emotionally involved in Russia’s political narratives.

To simplify participation, NoName057(16) distributed guides and tools like DDoSia. Europol also launched a prevention campaign warning suspected supporters of their criminal liability, delivered via the same communication platforms.

As the EU ramps up economic pressure, the Kremlin scrambles to downplay sanctions by pushing claims of immunity and resilience. But behind the bravado, top Russian officials are quietly conceding the growing toll on the country’s economy, according to the think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian officials claim immunity while signs of economic damage emerge

ISW reported on 18 July that Russian officials are continuing to falsely claim that the European Union’s newest sanctions have no significant impact on the Russian economy. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov alleged for no reason that the EU’s sanctions are illegal, and insisted Russia had already adapted to life under restrictive measures. He stated that the Kremlin would analyze the effects of the latest sanctions package and minimize their impact. Peskov also stated that the sanctions ostensibly ultimately harm those who imposed them.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev responded to the EU’s newest package by asserting that Russia’s stance remains unchanged and that the country’s economy will endure. He went further, threatening to increase strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities — which has already been happening for years. Medvedev declared that Russia must learn to “hate” the EU and what he described as its “Russophobia” as much as its ancestors did. 

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Putin’s Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, echoed similar showy defiance. He claimed that the sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia by closing Russian markets to European businesses and disrupting the continent’s energy supply. Meanwhile, Head of the Russian State Duma Committee on Financial Markets Anatoly Aksakov dismissed the new financial sanctions as insignificant, calling them “just a fluctuation in the air,” since Russian banks were already operating under EU restrictions.

Top Russian ministers admit critical sanctions impact

Despite these bold public statements, ISW highlighted that some senior Russian officials are now quietly admitting that sanctions are taking a toll on the economy. The Moscow Times reported on 17 July that Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev recently told the Russian Federation Council that Western sanctions are making it difficult for Russian oil companies to obtain parts needed to repair refineries.

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Russian Central Bank Chairperson Elvira Nabiullina openly stated on 19 June that Russia has “exhausted many of its free resources” since the start of the full-scale invasion and must now search for a new growth model. Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov also acknowledged during SPIEF that the Russian economy stands “on the brink of recession.”

Kremlin relies on evasive schemes to soften sanctions blow

ISW underscored that sanctions evasion through the People’s Republic of China and other third-party networks is now a key pillar of Moscow’s strategy. The Kremlin has built a network of actors designed to bypass Western restrictions, and has started reconfiguring its economic policies and business models to survive sanctions in the long run. However, ISW wrote, hinting on Washington’s hesitation to adopt news sanctions against Russia:

“The EU’s newest sanctions are a positive step, but wider Western compliance and enforcement are necessary to inflict maximum economic pressure on Russia.“

EU’s latest sanctions package delivers economic strike

The EU’s 18th sanctions package, approved on 18 July by the European Council, sharply undercuts Russian oil revenues. It slashes the oil price cap to $47.60 per barrel, bans Nord Stream pipeline transactions, and blacklists 105 more shadow fleet tankers—bringing the total to 444. It also targets entities tied to Rosneft and ends Czechia’s exemption for Russian oil.

Refined products from Russian crude are banned unless processed in select Western countries. Though the Kremlin budgeted for losses, these sanctions are expected to cut far deeper—threatening the third of federal revenue tied to oil.

The Czech Ministry of Defense has announced a significant increase in artillery ammunition deliveries to Ukraine in 2025 under its weapon initiative. It combines NATO countries’ donations with direct ammunition sales through a government-led program that has earned the confidence of international partners, Reuters reports. 

Czechia formed a special team for Ukraine, which together with private companies, scours global markets for surplus ammunition stockpiles and new production lines. Ammunition batches are offered to donor countries, which decide individually what to finance.

Director Ales Vytecka of the Czech Defense Ministry’s AMOS international cooperation agency says 850,000 shells have already been delivered in 2025 to Ukraine, including 320,000 of NATO-standard 155 mm rounds. These figures are approaching last year’s total of 1.5 million shells, 500,000 of which were 155 mm.

Despite the opposition party’s threats to shut the program down after elections, Vytecka stresses that transparency is maintained to the extent allowed by security considerations. He added that the 29% increase in donor contributions compared to 2024 is a clear vote of confidence in the program’s effectiveness.

Donor nations, including Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark, choose which deliveries to fund, and all procurement offers are subject to audit in their respective jurisdictions.

Czech intelligence has confirmed what economists suspected: Ukrainian refugees are now contributing more to the Czech economy than they receive in government assistance, according to the Security Information Service’s (BIS) annual report for 2024.

The intelligence assessment reveals that Ukraine’s displaced population has successfully integrated into Czech society while their economic output has already exceeded government expenditures since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

This finding highlights a troubling pattern across Europe: even clear economic benefits from refugee contributions have failed to prevent political backlash, as Poland’s recent election of an anti-Ukrainian president demonstrates despite refugees generating 2.7% of Polish GDP. Czech Republic now faces similar risks with anti-Ukrainian parties leading 2025 election polls.

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Czech success follows European pattern

The BIS reported that by end-2024, over 390,000 Ukrainian citizens held temporary protection status in the Czech Republic. The intelligence service documented their successful integration, noting “their economic contribution having already exceeded the volume of financial support and social benefits they have received from the Czech government since the beginning of the war.”

This fiscal turnaround happened faster than many expected. The Czech Labor Ministry estimated Ukrainian workers contributed up to 15 billion Czech crowns annually in taxes. Meanwhile, their presence helped solve chronic labor shortages across key sectors—services, healthcare, and social assistance.

People in Need tracked the numbers closely. By 2023, Ukrainian refugee support reached perfect balance: spending and revenues both hit approximately 22 billion crowns. The organization noted a clear trend: “while spending exceeded income in the year’s first half, income dominated in the second half.”

Political storm clouds gathering

But here’s the catch: positive economic data doesn’t guarantee political survival. Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s SPOLU coalition faces probable defeat in October 2025 parliamentary elections. Polls show ANO party crushing the competition with 35% support compared to SPOLU’s meager 19.5%.

What’s ANO’s position on Ukraine? Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has made it clear: the war is “not our war.” His party reportedly plans to kill the Czech munitions initiative that has supplied Ukraine with critical ammunition. ANO recently joined the “Patriots for Europe” faction alongside Viktor Orbán and Marine Le Pen—hardly Ukraine’s biggest fans.

The far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party makes ANO look moderate. Polling at 12.5% and likely to partner with ANO, SPD’s Tomio Okamura calls for ending Czech military aid and starting peace talks with Russia. His party pushes “welfare-chauvinist” arguments—social benefits should go to Czech citizens, not refugees.

Security picture remains positive

Czech intelligence found no serious downsides to Ukrainian refugee presence. The BIS assessment noted refugees “have not had a negative impact on the crime rate in the Czech Republic.” No evidence emerged of Ukrainian involvement in illegal arms trafficking, though the service warned such activity could develop after the war ends.

Current numbers tell a success story: 75% of economically active Ukrainians have jobs, with 88% working legally. But there’s room for improvement. International Organization for Migration data shows massive underemployment—68% of female and 50% of male refugees work below their qualification levels.

The skills mismatch represents missed opportunities. People in Need calculated that a single mother earning minimum wage generates 7,600 crowns monthly for the state. But put her in a job matching her qualifications at 32,000 crowns? She’d contribute 15,555 crowns monthly instead.

European warning signs

Poland offers a stark warning about political sustainability. Despite Ukrainian refugees generating a stunning 2.7% of GDP—worth €16 billion—Polish support for helping Ukrainians crashed from 94% to 57%. The result: Karol Nawrocki won the presidency promising to cut refugee benefits.

The Czech Republic shows similar vulnerabilities. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan indicated that roughly 60% of refugees plan to stay permanently, suggesting successful long-term integration. Yet authorities are already exploring return facilitation centers, following Germany and Poland’s lead.

The intelligence assessment suggests refugee flows will remain stable unless “Ukrainian defense were to collapse and Russia made a significant breakthrough on the front line.” But political stability? That’s another question entirely.

Three years of war have created a dangerous template: economic evidence of refugee benefits gets overwhelmed by war fatigue and anti-immigrant sentiment. Czech Republic’s pro-Ukrainian government may soon learn that fiscal success doesn’t guarantee electoral survival.

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