Czech Republic Launches State Programme to Assist Ukrainians in Returning Home

The Czech government has approved a state programme of so-called voluntary repatriation for Ukrainians, responding to the needs of those who want to return home despite the war. The state will cover travel expenses for those Ukrainians who want to return home for any reason, Radio Prague reported.

The pilot project will run from June to November 2024. As part of it, the Czech Republic is ready to pay for tickets for up to 400 people, as well as organise special medical transport for a maximum of thirty patients. 

The concept of voluntary return was approved by the government in mid-May. Five and a half million croons (over 220 thousand euros) have been allocated for the programme. Refugees will be able to take advantage of the paid voluntary return only once. 

The programme will be available to only some refugees, primarily those who do not have the financial means or have health problems. 

In general, the number of refugees with temporary protection in the Czech Republic has remained virtually unchanged in recent months.

In April, according to the Ministry of the Interior, the Czech Republic was home to about 339,000 Ukrainian citizens who fled their homeland due to the full-scale Russian invasion.

In mid-April, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that his country had already signed contracts for the supply of 180,000 artillery shells to Ukraine and was now working on contracting another 300,000.