Czech Republic Considers Creating a Ukrainian Volunteer Legion Following Poland's Example

The Czech Ministry of Defence is studying the practical experience of creating a volunteer legion of Ukrainians who have moved abroad in Poland. According to spokesperson Karel Čapek, the Polish project is currently being evaluated from a practical and legal point of view, Novinky reports.

Czech Defence Minister Jana Černohova assured Interview ČT 24 that her country would continue to train Ukrainian soldiers, but that Czech citizens who identify themselves as Ukrainian could also be reached and a unit could be formed.

‘The Ukrainian community living in the Czech Republic is large, regardless of the wave that came as a result of the war... We want to continue training Ukrainian soldiers, so why not train Czech citizens who call themselves Ukrainians and form a unit of them,’ Chernokhova said, adding that she would like to receive additional information from the Polish side.

According to her, participation in the hypothetical Czech legion should be entirely voluntary.

According to the Czech Ministry of the Interior, more than 100,000 Ukrainian male refugees aged 18 to 65 are currently registered in the country. Minister Vit Rakusan assured that there would be no forced return of Ukrainians from the Czech Republic.

Earlier it became known that Warsaw is organising the creation of a volunteer legion of Ukrainians who are in Poland but are ready to join the ranks of the Armed Forces and defend Ukraine. You can sign up for the legion through consular authorities. The Polish Ministry of Defence has stated that after completing their military service, Ukrainians will have the right to return to the place where they left their families.

The Ukrainian-Polish security agreement also stipulates that Ukrainians living not only in Poland but also in other countries will be able to join the Ukrainian Volunteer Legion.