Czech spy chief warns Russia would kill civilians in Czechia as in Ukraine

Russia would be prepared to kill civilians in Czechia just as it does in Ukraine, the head of the country’s domestic intelligence service said on September 8, warning against underestimating Moscow’s threat.

Michal Koudelka, director of the Czech Security Information Service (BIS), told a conference on internal security in the lower house of parliament that Russia has deliberately targeted civilians during its invasion of Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“We should all be absolutely certain that the Russians would do the same to us,” Koudelka said. “Let there be no doubt about it.”

He accused Moscow of carrying out “brutal murders” and “deliberately targeting civilians — women, children, and innocent, defenceless Ukrainian citizens.”

The remarks come ahead of Czechia’s October elections, amid heightened concerns in Brussels about Russian attempts to influence votes across Central and Eastern Europe, including those in Romania and Moldova later this month.

BIS has repeatedly cautioned that Russia is attempting to sway public opinion in Czechia through disinformation and cyberattacks on state institutions. “Russia seeks to sow division and erode public trust in institutions, the state, the rule of law, and Czechia’s place in the international community,” Koudelka said.

In its 2024 annual report, the agency said Russia had recruited migrants from outside the European Union to commit crimes designed to spread fear and weaken confidence in the government.

Czech investigative outlet Voxpot recently reported that the output of domestic disinformation websites, many of which republish material from sanctioned Russian outlets, has reached record levels ahead of the elections.

Koudelka also said Moscow has no interest in ending its war in Ukraine. “They are giving us time to prepare for possible Russian aggression,” he said of Ukrainian forces. He added: “The only language Russia speaks is strength, and Czechia must show determination to defend freedom.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev