Fire at Prague Home of Ukraine Arms Supplier STV Owner Probed

A private house in the Prague district of Kunratice caught fire overnight. According to land registry data, it belongs to billionaire Martin Drda, owner of the arms group STV. Czech forensic experts are establishing the cause, European Pravda reports, citing Novinky.

What firefighters found

The fire started about half an hour before midnight, when neighbours noticed flames by the entrance. "We sent one fire brigade to Kunratice, which put out the fire with a high-pressure water jet over an area of 1×1 metre. The investigator called to the scene estimated the damage at 200,000 crowns," fire service spokesman Miroslav Rezac said.

The blaze began near the garage, by the front door. It also spread to the insulation and frame of the house, so firefighters had to dismantle part of it and check everything with a thermal imager. Police were then called.

Police keep all versions open

"Forensic experts are currently investigating all circumstances and the cause of the fire in cooperation with fire-service investigators," police spokesman Richard Hrdina said. For now they do not rule out any version: a technical fault, negligence or deliberate arson.

STV Group is a Czech maker of ammunition and military equipment and one of the key suppliers of weapons to Ukraine during the full-scale war with Russia.

Warnings about attacks on arms makers

In mid-October the Financial Times reported, citing sources in five European intelligence services, that the leadership of arms companies could become a target for Russian agents. Michal Koudelka, director of the Czech counter-intelligence service BIS, also warned of a growing risk of Russian attacks: in the coming months Russia may launch riskier and more serious operations in the Czech Republic or other democracies. Related: Romania exposed a Russian-run sabotage network. More in World.