MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 24 February 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 23 February): BRATISLAVA - Premier Robert Fico, after Monday's meeting with Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (both Smer-SD), whose ministry is a 100-percent shareholder in the Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS), requested that SEPS should suspend emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. As of Monday, if Ukraine appeals to Slovakia with a request for aid in stabilising the Ukrainian energy grid, such aid won't be provided to it, Fico has posted on a social network. "Before adopting today's first reciprocal measure against Ukraine for the hostile acts of President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, I wanted to speak to the Ukrainian president by phone and get an answer as to when and whether oil supplies to Slovakia would be resumed. We received a message that the Ukrainian president is ready for talks only after 25 February this year. Given the seriousness of the situation and the declared state of oil emergency in Slovakia, we're forced to take the first reciprocal measure immediately under these circumstances. It will be lifted immediately after the resumption of oil transit to Slovakia. Otherwise, we'll take further reciprocal measures," stated the Slovak premier. BRATISLAVA - It would be bordering on treason if electricity supplies to Ukraine were actually halted, opposition Progressive Party (PS) leader Michal Simecka told a news conference held in front of the residence of the state-run Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS) on Monday, calling on the company's board of directors to disobey the "order" of Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD). "Halting the transmission of electricity to Ukraine would dramatically damage Slovakia's interests," said Simecka, stressing the economic and foreign political dimensions. "As far as I know, Ukraine is the second-largest consumer of our electricity. However, other countries such as Romania and Poland are ready to compensate for any outage," he said, adding that this decision would mean a loss amounting to hundreds of millions of euros for Slovakia. According to Simecka, there's also a risk of further damage to the country's reputation as an EU member. PS vice-chair Ivan Stefunko warned that the premier's intended step wouldn't only deprive the state-owned company of profits; it would have significant consequences for the future. "Ukraine would lose interest in further cooperation with Slovakia in this area. This would be a major blow to planned investments related to cooperation with Ukraine in the coming years," warned Stefunko. He opined that the state-owned company can't afford to make a decision that would economically harm Slovakia. He and Simecka therefore called on the SEPS board not to yield to pressure from Fico. BRUSSELS - The suspension of Russian oil transit through Ukraine following an attack on a pumping station is a serious issue for Slovakia, requiring an immediate and transparent solution, stated Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday, emphasising that despite extensive and long-term assistance to Ukraine, Slovakia hasn't yet received relevant information about the extent of damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline and the possibilities for resuming supplies, TASR was told by the ministry's communications department. "The Ukrainian side's approach is incomprehensible to us. It isn't communicating with us and isn't providing us with relevant information, despite our request that our representatives be allowed to visit the site of the damage. We've also asked European Commissioner [for Energy Dan] Jorgensen to send an inspection team to the site to assess whether the damage is such that oil supplies can't continue," said Slovakia's chief diplomat. According to Blanar, Slovakia has long provided Ukraine with extensive and specific assistance, particularly in the areas of energy and support for the civilian population. He said that 15 percent of Ukraine's oil consumption is covered by production from the Slovnaft refinery. Slovakia also supplies gas through reverse flow and provides emergency electricity supplies in the event of outages caused by attacks on energy infrastructure. BRATISLAVA - Threatening messages were sent to 19 schools in Slovakia on Sunday (22 February) night, most of them in Bratislava, but also one in Samorin (Trnava region) and one in Snina (Presov region), Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) told a news conference on the same day, adding that 65 police patrols have been deployed to guard the schools. The minister confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing and that each threat is being examined individually. The situation is currently under control, he said. "The investigation is ongoing, led by the District Police Corps Directorate in Bratislava," said Sutaj Estok, adding that the crime of spreading an alarmist news, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years, is being examined. "Each single threat is being examined individually, every piece of information is being analysed, and every clue is being evaluated without underestimating the risk," he added. Police Corps President Jana Maskarova noted that the cyber-crime unit is also working intensively to identify the perpetrators. "We've already identified some leads," she said. NIZNY HRABOVEC - The level of a sludge pond at the Bukoza plant in the village of Nizny Hrabovec in Vranov nad Toplou district (Presov region) was successfully reduced on Sunday evening (22 February), the Interior Ministry's strategic communications department told TASR on Monday, adding that the hazardous substances that have been pumped out will be disposed of in a qualified manner. The crisis management team continues its efforts to resolve the situation as quickly and effectively as possible and is taking measures to stabilise it on an ongoing basis. "Crisis management authorities are coordinating activities on site. All parties are working to prevent any threat to the lives and health of residents and any environmental damage," they said. Firefighters, the Interior Ministry's crisis management unit and the crisis management department of the District Office in Vranov nad Toplou are responding at the scene. Communication is also ongoing with the Slovak Environment Inspectorate (SIZP), the bankruptcy trustee and mayors of surrounding municipalities. BRATISLAVA - The long-awaited reconstruction of Bratislava's Main Railway Station is one step closer to becoming a reality, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) and railway infrastructure operator ZSR head Miroslav Garaj told a press conference on Monday, adding that the project is planned in stages. The preparatory work should begin in April, followed by construction work as part of a small-scale reconstruction. This mainly concerns the sanitary facilities, which are in a state of disrepair, and the interconnection of the station wings. "The result will be a new look for this Main Station in the form we know it. It means that we can expect no visual changes other than it will be new, clean, attractive, functional and in compliance with standards and hygiene requirements. Let's add barrier-free access and a connection between the exit and entrance," said Raz, adding that it is estimated that work on the small-scale reconstruction should be completed by the end of this year. At the same time, project work on a major renovation will begin this week. It is estimated that this work will commence at the turn of 2027 and 2028 and will involve the original station building, including its extension. The work is also being consulted with preservationists. The interior, including the floors, ceilings and facade with glazing, will undergo changes to let more light into the station, among other aims. ko