Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš publicly disclosed previously classified information about the scale of ammunition supplies to Ukraine under the so-called “Czech Initiative,” reports České noviny.
What Babiš Revealed
According to Babiš, approximately 280 billion Czech koruna – nearly $13.5 billion – passed through Czech companies under the initiative. The prime minister said he received this information from Aleš Víteček, the director of the Intergovernmental Defense Cooperation Agency (AMOS), which coordinates the supply program.
Babiš also stated that the Czech budget secretly allocated 17.1 billion koruna (about $829 million) for weapons procurement, and all these expenditures were classified.
Criticism and Warnings About Public Statements
Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Havlíček clarified that the “Czech Initiative” itself covered 114 billion koruna (approximately $5.5 billion), while around 160 billion koruna were used under a similar scheme involving international donors. According to him, these funds were transferred to individual partners, and the purchased equipment eventually reached Ukraine.
At the same time, former Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala sharply criticized the public disclosure of the initiative’s details. He warned that such statements could endanger the safety of people and companies involved in ammunition supplies, as well as cause economic damage.
History and Results of the “Czech Initiative”
It is worth noting that in 2024, the Czech Republic launched an international initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine with funds from Western partners. During 2025, Ukraine received 1.8 million large-caliber ammunition rounds – artillery shells and mortar mines – exceeding the initial plans.
Andrej Babiš had previously repeatedly opposed continuing this initiative. However, following a public statement by Czech President Petr Pavel, he was forced to agree to its continuation, provided funding comes from other countries.
Conclusion
Babiš’s disclosure of the “Czech Initiative” details highlights the scale of support for Ukraine, but at the same time creates serious risks. Publicly revealing the amounts and supply mechanisms could threaten the safety of people and companies involved in the program. This underscores how delicate and confidential international defense initiatives must be.
