As 2025 comes to an end, Czechia has achieved something unprecedented in its modern history: it is no longer dependent on Russian oil or gas. In Czechast, political scientist Martin Jirušek explains how this became possible and why it matters. The interview also looks ahead to new risks hidden in Europe’s energy transition.
As the year 2025 draws to a close, Czechia has reached a historic milestone: for the first time in its modern history, it has fully weaned itself off Russian oil and gas. That moment provides a fitting backdrop for the latest episode of Czechast, featuring political scientist Martin Jirušek from Masaryk University.
Martin Jirušek|Photo: Jan Kaliba, Czech Radio
Jirušek explains that energy security is not just about physical supply, but also about political leverage and long-term vulnerability. He traces today’s shift back to lessons learned during the 2009 gas crisis, when Russian supply cuts exposed how fragile Europe’s energy arrangements really were.
Czechia, he argues, was ultimately able to move faster than some of its neighbours thanks to alternative oil and gas routes built already in the 1990s. While Russian energy often remained cheaper—and therefore attractive—the infrastructure allowed Prague to act decisively after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Yet Jirušek cautions that energy independence does not mean the end of risk. As Europe undergoes a profound energy and economic transition, new dependencies are emerging—and ignoring them would repeat old mistakes in a new form.
The full interview is available in Czechast on all your favourite podcast platforms.