Main image: Illustrative photo - The Russian Embassy building in Prague, April 20, 2021. CTK/Deml Ondřej.
Russian intelligence agencies are attempting to revive their espionage network in the Czech Republic following a significant reduction in diplomatic presence in recent years, as reported by CTK.
Russia continues to be the largest security threat to the Czech Republic, according to the Security Information Service (BIS) in its 2023 annual report.
The Czech Republic, along with other Western countries, faces hybrid attacks from Russia aimed at undermining democracy and stability.
Following the expulsion of Russian diplomats in 2021 and 2022 related to the explosions at military warehouses in Vrbetice, Russia has started using new methods to restore its influence. According to BIS, Moscow is employing both long-term diplomatic accreditations and short-term visas to maintain the presence of its agents in the country.
Russia is using modern technologies, such as Telegram, to recruit and manage its agents. These attacks are aimed at undermining Western support for Ukraine, BIS notes.
Additionally, Russian intelligence agencies are actively engaged in cyber espionage, particularly targeting critical infrastructure in the Czech Republic and NATO countries.
Counterintelligence also reports Russia's attempts to circumvent sanctions through third countries, helping Moscow acquire critically important components for its military industry. This includes supplies from Western countries used for producing weapons and drones involved in the military conflict in Ukraine.
