The Czech Republic is ending its protection of Ukrainian men who have evaded military service

Ukrainian men of draft age who have not fulfilled their military service obligations will no longer be able to obtain temporary protection in the Czech Republic. The new rules apply to Ukrainians applying for protection starting August 5, 2026; they will be required to confirm fulfillment of their military service through the “Reserve+” app. 

This requirement applies to initial applications for temporary protection, renewals of status, and applications for protection for the purpose of family reunification. Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar noted that this decision will reduce the number of new arrivals by tens of percent and ease the burden on the Czech healthcare and social welfare systems.

The new restrictions do not apply to men who already have protection, and a military document will not be required during the standard renewal procedure. 

This was reported by the press service of the Czech Ministry of the Interior.

In 2025, for the first time since the start of the full-scale war, more Ukrainian male refugees arrived in the Czech Republic than female refugees. This shift in the migration pattern was the first of its kind since the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on EU leaders to review current reception mechanisms. This refers to the possibility of tightening conditions for certain categories of refugees, particularly men of draft age.