Czech Republic denies temporary protection to Ukrainian men

The Czech Republic has begun denying temporary protection to dozens of Ukrainian men who cannot prove they have fulfilled their military service obligations. This follows new European Union rules that took effect on August 5.

Under the updated policy, Ukrainian men between the ages of 23 and 60 must provide documentation confirming they have met their military duties in Ukraine to qualify for temporary protection. Verification can be conducted through an electronic military ID or a Ukrainian exit stamp, though Czech authorities noted a preference for extracts from the military ID for increased reliability.

Veronika Votočková, a migration and asylum expert at the Czech Ministry of the Interior, confirmed that several dozen individuals were denied status within the first week of the rule change. The policy shift aims to support Ukraine’s defense needs by linking the right to leave the country with the fulfillment of military duties. There are currently more than 396,000 Ukrainian refugees residing in the Czech Republic.