OREANDA-NEWS  On the night of April 21, Czech security forces carried out a large-scale special operation, during which at least five Czech citizens were detained - they were accused of participating in hostilities in Donbass on the side of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR. This information is reported by the Aktualne.cz edition.

It is noted that the detainees are suspected of planning, organizing and even leaving for Ukraine in order to take part in hostilities. Moreover, according to media reports, all of this was allegedly directed by "employees of the Russian GRU from the embassy in Prague", who had already been expelled from the country.

It is also indicated that to date none of the detainees has been charged.

On April 17, Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babis said that the country's authorities suspect the Russian special services of involvement in the explosion at an ammunition depot in Vrbetica in 2014.

On the same day, the Czech Republic announced its decision to expel 18 Russian diplomats. It was reported that the employees of the diplomatic service were "identified by the country's special services as officers of the GRU and SVR."

The European Union supported the accusations of the Czech Republic, calling it reasonable suspicions of Russia's alleged involvement in the explosion of ammunition.