Good evening, and welcome to the Friday, January 9 edition of Today in Slovakia. Here are the most important news highlights of the day — thanks for being with us!
COUNTER-DRONE DEFENCE: Plans to build new counter-drone defence systems, according to Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák, have nothing to do with Russia. Moreover, Kaliňák said, “The Russians have not sent any drones our way.” Well not so far, perhaps – though they did recently hit a Slovak-flagged vessel in the Black Sea.
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But based on the minister’s logic, what is the system actually being built to defend against? The answer: unidentified enemies, or possibly Slovakia’s current allies. In the recent film Nuremberg, the character of Hermann Göring says: “Just because someone is your ally does not mean they are on your side.” Perhaps the minister, if he happened to watch the film, has interpreted those words literally.
Kaliňák acknowledged that Russian drones have entered neighbouring Poland, but he said NATO countries face different adversaries – and “obviously” those are not Russia. His comments were a thinly veiled reference to recent US threats to seize the Danish territory of Greenland, despite Denmark being a loyal member of NATO.
According to the minister, Slovakia also needs counter-drone protection against organised crime. He predicts that after the war in Ukraine, criminal groups made up of former soldiers could emerge and use drones in their activities.
“We are protecting Slovakia against all threats. We do not assume in advance who the system is aimed at,” Kaliňák added.
Except Russia, that is – which Kaliňák clearly assumes will not be among Slovakia’s “enemies”.
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Bratislava is among Britons’ top travel picks for 2026
Bratislava, looking down Grösslingova Street towards the castle. (source: Marko Erd, SME)
Rising star: Bratislava has landed among the top 50 most sought-after destinations for British travellers in 2026, TASR news agency reports according to a new ranking by travel industry platform Travel and Tour World (TTW).
British tastes: The list reflects what UK travellers are currently looking for: short flight times, authentic cultural experiences and good value for money. Alongside classic heavyweights like Rome, Paris and Lisbon, the Slovak capital has edged ahead of dozens of European rivals.
Data-backed boost: TTW says its ranking is based on extensive research, data analysis and reader voting, aiming to capture not just current popularity but also emerging travel trends. Slovakia’s national tourism board says the result confirms growing international interest in the country as a destination in the heart of Europe.
Easy to reach: Direct flight connections have helped put Bratislava on the British travel radar, with accessibility playing a key role in holiday decisions. Compact distances between sights also make the city attractive for short city breaks.
Small city charm: British visitors praise Bratislava’s mix of history and modernity, from Old Town streets and contemporary architecture to skyline views from the UFO restaurant on the SNP Bridge. Affordable prices, local gastronomy and famously photogenic spots like the Čumil statue add to the appeal.
Good company: In the TTW top 50, Bratislava appears alongside destinations such as Tenerife, Santorini, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Vienna and even Route 66 in the US, a sign that Slovakia’s capital is increasingly competing on the global travel stage, not just at the regional level.
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FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE:
In other news
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A total of 313 companies went bankrupt in Slovakia in 2025, the third-highest figure of the past decade. The number fell by 7.7 percent year-on-year, down from 339 bankruptcies in 2024 (and 332 cases in 2023), according to CRIF – Slovak Credit Bureau. Analyst Jana Marková noted that 2023–2025 are the only years in the past decade to exceed 300 bankruptcies, a trend comparable to the period between 2010 and 2015, in the wake of the global financial crisis.
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Slovak biathletes Anastasiya Kuzminová and Mária Remeňová have secured places to compete at the Milan–Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics next month. Kuzminová, a four-time Olympian and two-time sprint gold medallist, earned her spot with a 20th-place finish in Thursday’s World Cup sprint in Oberhof, while 25-year-old Remeňová qualified through internal IBU points rankings. Along with Paulína Bátovská Fialková, who secured her place in December, Slovakia now has four female biathletes confirmed for the games.
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Speaker of Parliament Richard Raši (Hlas) has opened nominations for candidates to fill slots on Slovakia’s Constitutional Court. The mandate of a member of the current bench, Judge Jana Baricová, expires on July 10. Nominations must be submitted by March 27 so that the vote can take place at the parliamentary session starting on May 26. The court should have 13 judges but has operated with only 12 for more than two years, as parliament has repeatedly failed to fill a vacancy that opened in 2023.
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Meteorologists recorded Slovakia’s lowest temperature in five years overnight into Friday, with minus 25.6°C measured in Vígľaš-Pstruša, Detva district in the Banská Bystrica region. According to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, temperatures fell below minus 15°C across roughly half of the country, dipping below minus 20°C in parts of central Slovakia. While another frosty night is expected, meteorologists say it will be significantly milder on Friday night, with only light snowfall forecast in western and central regions.
The frost also brought some joy, as children and adults in Bratislava’s Petržalka district went ice skating and played hockey on the frozen Chorvátske rameno canal. (source: Miroslav Košírer)
THE BRIGHT SIDE
COMMUNITY ICE RINK: Residents of Vysoká nad Kysucou in northern Slovakia have been sacrificing sleep for a seventh winter in a row to create a free outdoor ice rink for local children and families. A group of volunteers led by Ján Varecha floods the surface several times a night whenever temperatures drop below zero, often before heading straight to work in the morning. What started as a small rink for a handful of children now attracts up to 60 skaters at weekends, with hockey games in the evenings and families on the ice during the day.
On the right, Ján Varecha, who floods the ice rink up to four times a night. (source: Anton Varecha)
ICE WINE HARVEST: Hard frosts have delighted winemakers in Topoľčianky, who harvested the last frozen grape bunches early Friday morning for the production of their winery’s unique ice wine. Collectors worked in the dark, wrapped up and wearing gloves, with only a few hours to pick the grapes before they thawed. “In recent years, we often had to wait until mid-February for frost,” said technologist Roman Komárňanský, while winemaker Samuel Waldner added that current temperatures of around minus 12°C are ideal.
BIRDS IN FOCUS: Slovakia’s Bird of the Year 2026 is the great bustard (Otis tarda), a species once widespread but now critically endangered. Thanks to habitat restoration and protection efforts, about ten females nested in Slovakia in 2025, and over 600 winter here, representing 75 percent of the central European population. Conservationists are working to expand their range and encourage public reporting of sightings. Meanwhile, a telemetered martial eagle from the Malá Fatra region has spent the winter in southern Africa, covering roughly 7,750 km from its Slovak nest. Its route closely mirrors that of another male tracked from the Veľká Fatra, with both birds currently wintering in Botswana, about 250 km apart. Scientists are using such tracking to better understand migration and support conservation across continents.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Veľká Fatra mountains are home to the largest natural population of English yew trees (Tis obyčajný) in Central Europe; some are hundreds of years old. Slow-growing and almost entirely poisonous, these ‘silent green guardians’ combine beauty and danger, and inspired the region’s logo. Next time you pass by, take a moment to admire them – without touching!
The English yew tree is the symbol of the Veľká Fatra. (source: FB Národný park Veľká Fatra)
WEEKEND TALK SHOW LINEUP:
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Sobotné dialógy (Rádio Slovensko), Saturday: Richard Raši (Hlas)
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Politika 24 (Joj24), Sunday: Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas)
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V politike (TA3), Sunday: Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer)
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O 5 minút 12 (Jednotka), Sunday: President Peter Pellegrini
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Na telo (Markíza), Sunday: Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) leader Milan Majerský
WEEKEND WEATHER IN SLOVAKIA
Cloudy to overcast, with snow in places, especially in the north. Snow drifts may form. Highs of between -5°C and 0°C.
WARNINGS
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Saturday: From eastern to central Slovakia, including northern and southern areas, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued warnings for strong winds in the mountains, and low temperatures. In the eastern and western parts of the country, there is an additional warning in place for possible snow drifts.
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Sunday: For most of Slovakia, except for parts of Trnava and Bratislava Regions, the SHMÚ has issued warnings for snow drifts and blizzards, strong winds, and high mountain winds.
NAME DAYS: Daša (Saturday, January 10), Malvína (Sunday, January 11), Ernest (Monday, January 12).
Thanks for reading today’s digest. We hope you enjoyed today’s snowy weather and we’ll see you on Monday. Take care!
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at [email protected].
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