Czech Republic
Ukraine's futsal team lost to Armenia with a score of 1:2 in the first round of the European Championship 2026. Migran Dermondzhyan responded with a brace to Vladyslav Pervieiev's goal.
Mykhailo Fedorov discussed cooperation within PURL and the development of NASAMS air defense systems with his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik. Norway will provide Ukraine with security assistance worth $7 billion and make the largest contribution to strengthening air defense.
Ukraine received 50 tons of humanitarian aid from the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, and Norway. The aid includes transformers, generators, and other energy equipment.
NABU and SAP announced suspicion to the former head of the State Border Guard Service and a current official of the State Border Guard Service. They were exposed for systematically receiving undue benefits for facilitating unhindered border crossing.
The 2026 European Futsal Championship starts on January 21 and will be held in Lithuania, Latvia, and Slovenia. The Ukrainian national team has announced its final squad for the tournament.
Czech Prime Minister Babiš called discussions about selling L-159 attack aircraft to Ukraine "superfluous," as they are critically important for the defense of the Czech Republic. He criticized President Pavel for raising this issue without consulting the government.
MEPs will vote on providing Ukraine with a €90 billion support loan at the next plenary session. This instrument will provide military and budgetary support, as well as support Ukraine's defense industry.
A shooting occurred at the local city hall building in the Czech city of Hřibsko. There are dead and wounded, including the city's mayor, Jan Macháč. One of the three attackers was eliminated.
Updated citizenship rules have come into force in Ukraine, simplifying procedures for foreign military personnel and their families, providing for the recognition of multiple citizenship, and establishing examinations. The law also expands the grounds for losing citizenship.
The Czech government has decided not to sell light combat aircraft to Ukraine, said Tomio Okamura, leader of the far-right party. The Minister of Defense stated that the Czech army would need these aircraft.
The Czech Foreign Minister criticized President Pavel's proposal to provide Ukraine with L-159 aircraft without consulting the government. This proposal may reduce the likelihood of the aircraft being transferred.
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that the Czech Republic will transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine to destroy Russian drones. These are medium-class aircraft, possibly L-159s.
UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived in Kyiv on January 16. This visit confirms the intensive cooperation between the countries after signing a 100-year partnership agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Czech President Petr Pavel honored the memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv. The ceremony took place as part of Pavel's visit to the Ukrainian capital.
Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Kyiv on January 16, where he was met by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha. The visit aims to deepen strategic partnership, defense cooperation, and peace efforts.
Czech President Pavel stated in Lviv that Ukraine needs perseverance and direct support, not sympathy. He emphasized that the winter period exacerbates the consequences of the war, and the country has been resisting aggression for almost four years.
Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Ukraine on a working visit, meeting with the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi. The Czech Republic remains a strategic partner of Ukraine, having provided military assistance worth 837 million dollars.
European crypto exchange WhiteBIT is launching a Global Talent Program for Ukrainian developers. The program will last four months and transform Junior+ developers into blockchain professionals.
Okamura emphasized that he sees no reason why the Czech Republic should treat Ukraine more leniently than other countries, and also noted that the countries are not allies.
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka arrived in Ukraine to meet with Andriy Sybiha. His trip was delayed due to Russian missile attacks, which he criticized.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha held talks with the newly appointed Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka on January 6. The parties agreed to strengthen political dialogue and discussed defense cooperation.
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych. They discussed the mood in Czech society and the recent public discussion regarding the New Year's address by Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura.
On January 2, the Peresypsky District Court of Odesa chose a pre-trial detention measure in the form of detention without bail for the organizer of a transnational drug supply channel. The value of one batch of cocaine, which was planned to be imported weekly, exceeded 200 thousand US dollars.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will review his predecessors' initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine. He considers the initiative "a good thing" but demands a corruption check and will discuss it on January 7.
Czech President Petr Pavel expressed concern over the anti-Ukrainian statements made by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura. He plans to discuss this issue with the Prime Minister and constitutional officials.
Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha supported the Ukrainian ambassador after criticism from the Czech Foreign Ministry, calling the diplomat's actions professional and justified. Sybiha emphasized that the ambassador's reaction was a response to unacceptable attacks against Ukraine.
Czech opposition parties are initiating a vote on the dismissal of Tomio Okamura from the post of Speaker of the lower house of parliament. The reason for this is his New Year's statements about Ukraine, which caused outrage and accusations of spreading Russian propaganda.
Law enforcement officers have dismantled an international cocaine supply channel to Ukraine, organized by a group of citizens from Ukraine, Armenia, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The organizer, who had previously served a sentence for drug offenses in the US, planned to import up to 2 kg of cocaine weekly, with the value of a single shipment exceeding $200,000.
Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine's Ambassador to the Czech Republic, called the anti-Ukrainian statements by Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura disgraceful. Okamura spoke out against providing weapons to Ukraine, calling the war "senseless," and expressed unwillingness to see Ukraine in the EU.
Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura spoke out against providing weapons to Ukraine, calling the war "senseless. " He stated that the money of Czech pensioners should not go to support "pro-war propaganda."