Good evening. Here is the Friday, July 25 edition of Today in Slovakia – the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Slovaks narrowly avoid Kyiv bombing
Security forces intervened outside a Kyiv café on July 23, 2025, where an elderly woman carrying explosives was apprehended. (source: SBU)
A Slovak anti-disinformation group narrowly avoided being caught in a planned bombing in central Kyiv. Members of the civic project Hoaxy a podvody, including its founder David Púchovský, had just wrapped up a meeting in a local café when Ukrainian intelligence officers arrested an elderly woman carrying explosives into the same location.
The group left the area minutes before the arrest on Wednesday, July 23. When they returned several hours later, the café and surrounding street were cordoned off, and bomb disposal units were at the scene. According to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the woman was carrying two improvised explosive devices with a combined force equivalent to 1.5 kilograms of TNT. The explosives were intended to be detonated remotely during the evening rush hour, coinciding with large anti-corruption protests in the capital.
The SBU said the suspect, a resident of Kyiv, believed she was assisting Ukrainian authorities. In reality, she had been recruited by Russian intelligence operatives posing as Ukrainian officials — a tactic Ukrainian authorities say is increasingly common. Civilians, often unaware of the true nature of their assignments, are used to deliver or plant explosive devices.
The Slovak group had parked their vehicles nearby and said they may have been directly endangered had the attack gone ahead. The incident highlights both the ongoing threat of sabotage in Ukraine and the risks faced by foreign civilians visiting the country amid the ongoing war.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.
SPECTACULAR SLOVAKIA PODCAST
A long walk through history
Peter Kvačkay (right) and a friend on the SNP trail (source: Peter Kvačkay)
Why would someone quit their job to walk 770 kilometres across Slovakia? For Peter Kvačkay, it was about more than just the distance. In the latest Spectacular Slovakia podcast episode, he shares what it is like to hike the SNP Trail – a route steeped in World War II history and natural beauty. Along the way: blisters, bears, solitude, and self-discovery.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
A taste of Indonesia in Bratislava
Looking for something vibrant to do this weekend? The Indonesian Embassy is hosting its annual Indonesian Bazaar this Saturday, July 26, from 10:00 to 16:00 at Brnianska 31 in Bratislava.
Expect a lively mix of traditional food, aromatic coffee, handmade crafts, music, dance performances, and games for children. There is even a raffle with prizes – and entry is free.
IN OTHER NEWS
Bratislava’s new Petržalka tram line begins service this Sunday, July 27 – though some sections, including the Južné mesto stop and Kutlíkova bridge, are still under construction. (SME)
Slovakia, alongside Austria, saw the EU’s fastest-growing public debt in early 2025 – rising by 3.5 percent of GDP, or over €5 billion, in just one quarter. Opposition party KDH blames government mismanagement and warns that further austerity will hit citizens unless spending is cut, tax collection improved, and investment boosted. (TASR)
Kia Slovakia will halt production at its plant in Teplička nad Váhom (Žilina Region) for nearly two weeks due to a scheduled summer operational break. The break, lasting until 8 August, will be used for maintenance, modernisation, and preparations for the launch of the plant’s first fully electric EV4 model. (TASR)
According to a SCIO agency survey conducted in late June, 58.9 percent of respondents oppose the idea of Slovakia adopting military neutrality if it meant a lower standard of living, while 41.1 percent would support it despite the economic cost. The survey also found that 85.9 percent of respondents reject the idea of Slovakia joining the Russian Federation, with only 14.1 percent in favour. Analyst Martin Klus noted that opposition to joining Russia was strongest among men, urban residents, the university-educated, and higher earners, while pensioners and those on parental leave were most supportive of neutrality, despite also being among the biggest opponents of accession to Russia. (SITA)
Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Slovakia’s state-owned Water Management Construction (Vodohospodárska výstavba – VV) to explore the feasibility of building Europe’s first commercial pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) system in Slovakia. The project aims to store surplus electricity from hydropower plants and release it when needed, enhancing grid stability and supporting the country’s renewable energy goals. A two-month feasibility study will be followed by a 12-month design phase, with the system expected to be operational by 2030 and supplied largely by local firms. (TASR)
A recent Focus agency survey for the 360tka.sk portal shows that Transport Minister Jozef Ráž (nom. Smer) is currently the most trusted member of Slovakia’s cabinet, with 41 percent trust and 48 percent distrust. He is followed by Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (Hlas), also with 41 percent trust but a higher distrust level of 53 percent, and Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas), trusted by 38 percent of respondents. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) and Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (nom. SNS) both have 32 percent trust, with Fico facing 66 percent distrust. The least trusted ministers are Rudolf Huliak (Vidiek, nom. Smer) and Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (nom. SNS), each with only 18 percent and 24 percent trust respectively, and a high 73 percent distrust. (SITA)
Progressive Slovakia has filed a complaint with the Public Procurement Office over the procurement process led by Slovakia Travel for the Expo 2025–2026 project, citing a lack of transparency and potential legal violations. MP Richard Dubovický criticised the agency for failing to publish key tender documents and raised concerns about the effective use of public funds, calling for an official investigation. Slovakia Travel responded that the contract was signed and published in accordance with the law, insisting the tender met all legal criteria and accusing Dubovický of politicising the issue rather than engaging in professional dialogue. (TASR)
Tourists with a man in a bear costume at Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras on 19 July 2025. (source: TASR – František Iván)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND
Saturday: Mostly cloudy to overcast with showers and rain in many areas; isolated thunderstorms possible, some potentially intense. Feeling humid. Yellow thunderstorm warning in effect across Slovakia. Daytime temperatures between 24°C and 31°C, cooler in the north.
Sunday: Cloudy to overcast with widespread showers, rain, and local thunderstorms. Some heavy downpours likely. Orange rain warning in place. Humid in places. Highs of 20°C to 25°C, up to 27°C in Abov and southern Zemplín.
Monday: Overcast with frequent rain and showers; isolated thunderstorms possible. Occasional heavy rainfall. Orange rain warning continues. Maximum temperatures between 20°C and 25°C, around 18°C in northern areas such as the Žilina Region and Upper Spiš.
WEEKEND PARTY TIME: This weekend, Anna, Hanna, Anita, Aneta, Božena and Krištof are the lucky ones to celebrate their name days. Don’t forget to send your best wishes: to all the Annas, Hannas, Anitas and Anetas in your life on Saturday (July 26), Boženas on Sunday (July 27) and last, but not least Krištofs on Monday (July 28).
Thanks for reading and subscribing – it truly means a lot.
Oi oi! It’s the weekend – off you go, enjoy it to the fullest! See you Monday, bright-eyed and (hopefully) not too storm-drenched!
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram(@slovakspectator). For news from Slovakia in Ukrainian, click here or follow Novyny on Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram.
Join our newsletter family and never miss a Slovak moment: Today in Slovakia | Last Week in Slovakia | Slovak Science| Spectacular Slovakia | Slovak Roots