Welcome to Tuesday’s Today in Slovakia. Thanks for reading.
This is our final edition before a short festive break. We’ll be back on Monday, the 29th.
Christmas shopping: Most shops in Slovakia will again be closed over the Christmas holidays. Stores may open on Christmas Eve, 24 December, only until midday — with major chains such as Lidl, Tesco and Kaufland closing earlier — and will remain shut on 25 and 26 December, reopening on Saturday, 27 December.
In the meantime, please don’t forget that you can still support the Ukrainian news website Novyny.sk, which helps refugees settle into life in Slovakia, by making a donation.
Tragedy in eastern Slovakia
An image showing the scene of a roof fall at a company in Veľké Kapušany on 23 December 2025. (source: TASR – František Iván)
What happened: Three people were killed on Tuesday afternoon after part of a roof collapsed during reconstruction works at a company site in Veľké Kapušany, in eastern Slovakia’s Michalovce district.
At the scene: The collapse occurred on P. O. Hviezdoslav Street, prompting the deployment of all emergency services, including professional and volunteer firefighters, rescue brigades and police.
Victims: After several hours of search and rescue operations, authorities confirmed that three men aged 23, 31 and 41 were found dead in the rubble. One person was rescued conscious and taken to hospital with serious injuries, while another escaped without injury.
Rescue efforts: The incident was reported shortly after 14:00. Firefighters also used thermal imaging equipment to search through the debris for possible survivors.
Human impact: One of the victims had recently become a father to twins.
What’s next: Police remain at the site and say the circumstances of the accident are still under investigation.
Reaction: Košice Archbishop Bernard Bober expressed condolences to the victims’ families, noting that the tragedy is especially painful as it comes just days before Christmas.
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WHAT THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR HAD ON TUESDAY Are you lonely this Christmas?
A still from Lonely This Christmas by Mud (1974) (source: Mud)
In a personal reflection, Oscar Brophy writes about spending Christmas in Bratislava, living far from family, and how loss and migration can make the holidays especially lonely for people abroad — while also exploring how community can help fill the gaps left by distance.
RELATED: Everything you need to know about Christmas in Slovakia
A national cultural monument transformed into a modern A+ office in the heart of Košice. Fully redeveloped, Pošta 1930 offers state-of-the-art technologies, EV charging, bike facilities, relaxation zones and excellent connectivity — a workspace that reflects your corporate identity.
In other news
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President signs Criminal Code changes: President Peter Pellegrini has signed Slovakia’s amended Criminal Code without using his veto, claiming full political responsibility lies with the government and the parliamentary majority that approved it. While backing parts of the reform — including tougher rules on repeat theft and election interference — he acknowledged that several last-minute amendments, such as limits on cooperating witnesses and a new offence linked to questioning post-war arrangements, have sparked strong public and expert debate and may yet face a challenge at the Constitutional Court. The move was criticised by the opposition, the general prosecutor, and prompted one of the president’s advisers to resign.
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Alarming findings: A pilot study by Slovakia’s Children’s Ombudsman has found widespread signs of forced and organised child begging in eastern Slovakia, with more than 30 percent of over 100 monitored cases involving adults supervising children and taking their earnings. The monitoring also uncovered indications of organised child prostitution, including girls aged 13–16 being offered for sex, prompting calls for regular hotspot monitoring, stronger cooperation between authorities and schools, and nationwide awareness campaigns. (SITA)
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Good news for travellers: The direct, two-way train connection between Prague and Prešov is back, with Leo Express restoring stops in both directions after a year, meaning passengers will no longer need to change trains in Košice; the private operator will run two daily direct services under the new timetable and is also expanding its international connections.
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First of its kind: Slovakia has launched its first accredited university programme focused on real estate, with the University of Economics in Bratislava offering a professionally oriented bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Management in both full-time and part-time formats. Developed with the National Association of Real Estate Agencies, the course aims to bring academic grounding to a sector employing more than 27,000 people and will combine economics, law and finance with hands-on practical training. (SITA)
Animals at Košice Zoo received Christmas gifts on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, which they unwrapped and consumed. Pictured is a Malayan squirrel. (source: TASR – František Iván)
Wednesday weather: Snow or sleet in places, with rain possible in the south. Daytime temperatures will range from 1°C to 6°C, dropping to between –4°C and 1°C in parts of northern Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
Snow report: See which ski centres are open — and what conditions to expect — before you go.
Name day: Adam, Eva.
That’s all from me today. Back on Monday. Have a good Christmas, and try to switch off.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
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