The president of the Czech Republic has approved 40 applications for individuals to fight in Ukraine and aid the war effort against Russia, according to the Czech news outlet iROZHLAS.cz. Czech President Petr Pavel's approval for citizens to join the war has doubled since the previous year, and the president authorized three women to join the war this year.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Pavel's approval of 40 applications for Czech citizens to serve in the war in Ukraine is significant because it highlights ongoing support for the Ukrainians from the Czech Republic and other global powers as they continue to contribute military and humanitarian aid.
What To Know
A total of 109 people submitted applications to the Ministry of Defense join the Russia-Ukraine war and provide support for Kyiv on the ground. Without presidential approval, it is illegal for citizens of the Czech Republic to serve in foreign armed forces.
In considering the applications, the president also consults the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Defense before giving his approval. Those who can fight in foreign armies include individuals with dual citizenship in another country and those who wish to serve in a NATO army.
Citizens of the Czech Republic have become more interested in aiding Ukraine in the war, as the applications to join the fight have increased. Since the war's inception nearly four years ago, 667 applications have been submitted, and 477 of them were sent to the former Czech President Miloš Zeman, of which he approved 132.
The Czech Republic has provided support for Ukraine since the war began in February 2022 and gave Kyiv materials worth approximately CZK 4.9 billion (approximately $201,838,350) as of 2023. This aid has comprised of air assets, tanks, fighting vehicles, and self-propelled gun howitzers, and the Czech Armed Forces also trained hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers.
There have been other foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine including Peng Chenliang, a Chinese national who was killed in November, as well as others from the U.S., Canada, and various European countries.
What People Are Saying
Filip Platoš, a spokesman for the Office of the President of the Republic, told the outlet: "Last year, the Minister of Defense forwarded a total of 114 applications from 109 applicants to the President of the Republic for decision. A total of five people therefore submitted applications repeatedly.
"During his term, President Petr Pavel rejected a total of 121 applications, because at least one of the ministries issued a dissenting opinion."
Ondřej Krátoška, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, said: "We generally assess the request from a criminal-legal perspective, for example, whether the person is a person who has been prosecuted, convicted, etc. Or also from a service perspective, i.e. whether the person is a member of the security forces. In such cases, we do not recommend consent."
With a photo of a gift Ukraine sent him, Pavel wrote on X: "Ukraine has already experienced its third Christmas at war. While many of us were spending Christmas in abundance, soldiers of the 10th Ukrainian Brigade were defending their country in the trenches. During that time, the volunteers of the Memory of the Nation in Donbas heard dozens of stories of brave people who are determined to fight for their country until the Russian aggression is stopped, and they promised to pass on the message from the Ukrainian soldiers. The label of the canned pork that they sent me reads: 'Thank you for helping the Czech Republic and its people.'"
What Happens Next
The fighting in Kursk may escalate, as Ukraine launched an offensive in the southern portion of the region yesterday; as a result, foreign volunteers may significantly aid the initiative as the war continues to escalate, reaching its fourth year in February. The Czech volunteers, as well as other foreign soldiers, may directly combat both Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk.
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