Pro-Ukrainian former Slovak defence minister attacked in Slovakia

Former Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, now head of the opposition Democratic Party, says he was first verbally and then physically attacked by an unknown man at a petrol station in the town of Senec. The report, citing the outlet Dennik N, was published by "Yevropeiska Pravda".

Naď said he had not yet filed a criminal complaint over the incident, noting that in such cases the matter usually ends up classified as a minor administrative offence carrying a 30-euro fine for the attacker. According to him, the man hurled vulgar insults and voiced support for Russians and extremists, then attempted to put out a cigarette on his face and provoke a physical fight, without success.

Political background

Naď led Slovakia's Defence Ministry at the time Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was among those who decided to send Slovak military aid to Ukraine. Those decisions were later criticised by the current government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico.

In 2024, it emerged that Slovak authorities had asked police to investigate the previous government and Naď over the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets and a Kub air defence system to Ukraine. In November 2025, however, law enforcement said it found no evidence of a crime in the previous government's decisions on the transfers.

Separately, Slovak police reportedly sought to detain Naď in mid-June last year while he was on holiday in Canada. He described the police action at the time as a "show".