Czech intelligence chief warns Russia may launch ‘significantly riskier’ operations

Russia could carry out “significantly riskier and more serious” operations in the Czech Republic or another democratic country in the coming months, Czech intelligence chief Michal Koudelka said Monday, according to Czech news agency Ceske Noviny.

“In recent weeks, we have been receiving very credible information indicating that Russia could move to a significantly riskier and more serious operation in a matter of months rather than years,” Koudelka said at an international security conference in the Chamber of Deputies.

He cited possible scenarios including sabotage targeting facilities supporting Ukraine, drone or missile attacks on weapons depots intended for Ukraine, and limited military action against a NATO member.

“The threat is not current now, but in the coming months, perhaps after some form of mobilization is announced, it cannot be ruled out,” Koudelka said.

He said there was no need for alarm, adding that the Czech Republic was capable of responding to such threats but needed to be prepared.

Koudelka described Russia as the Czech Republic’s biggest foreign security threat and said it would remain so for a long time.

He also warned about Russian disinformation efforts, saying Moscow sought to divide Western democratic countries because it could not defeat them militarily or economically.

“It is necessary to narrow the operational space of the Russian disinformation machine,” he said.

Koudelka also said the Czech Republic and other democratic countries should make clear to Moscow that they were aware of its actions and did not trust it.

He pointed to similarities between Russian statements about the rights of Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and more recent statements concerning the Baltic states.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in September that Moscow was not preparing for a conflict with Europe.

Western officials have warned of possible Russian actions against European countries supporting Ukraine.

Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022.