The EU has launched an investigation into Slovakia’s provision of munitions to Ukraine. (Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo)
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has launched an investigation into financial damages to the European Union stemming from Slovakia’s provision of weapons to Ukraine, Slovak outlet Aktuality reported on April 28, citing European prosecutor Juraj Novocký.
The probe focuses on the purchase and transfer of artillery shells and munitions to Ukraine, which allegedly took place in violation of EU laws. Novocký later confirmed the investigation.
“We are conducting a criminal investigation on suspicion of causing harm to the financial interests of the European Union, along with other possible offenses. The investigation concerns the procurement of munitions and their donation to Ukraine,” he said.
According to Novocký, the investigation is still in its early stages. Slovak prosecutors are also conducting a parallel investigation. Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok has accused former Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď and the previous government of leaving Slovakia “naked and barefoot” at a time when the world is on the brink of conflict.
“We have no fighter jets, no missile defense system,” Šutaj Eštok said.
In an interview with Euractiv, Novocký said the investigation was triggered by findings from Slovakia’s Supreme Audit Office, which reviewed government purchases of military equipment and munitions in 2022–2023.
The audit reportedly found that some contracts signed in 2022 were specifically for acquiring military equipment for Ukraine and that the purchases were carried out hastily — over a single weekend in February 2022.
Slovakia allegedly breached the contract terms by failing to deliver the munitions to a Slovak warehouse in Nováky as required, sending them directly to Ukraine instead. Furthermore, the munitions were reportedly old stock, and Kyiv had not officially requested that specific type of weaponry.
Former Defense Minister Naď rejected claims that the procurement was organized in just two days, saying negotiations had actually been underway for several weeks, given that the threat of a Russian invasion had been known since fall 2021, and talks with Ukraine had been ongoing.
He also claimed that defense officials had misled auditors, suggesting the European prosecutors’ investigation is based on false information.
It was clarified that Ukraine was aware the munitions were older but agreed to accept them nonetheless.
Slovakia’s current Prime Minister Robert Fico has since halted military aid to Ukraine from Slovak state reserves, although he has stated he will not block private arms manufacturers from continuing supplies.
Under the previous government, Slovakia had supplied Ukraine with munitions, tanks, an S-300 air defense system, and even a fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets.
Former defense minister Naď also noted that the majority of production from Slovak factories manufacturing 155 mm shells is currently destined for Ukraine.
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