In 2024, several dozen Czech individuals will be allowed to serve in the Defense Forces.

The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, approved 40 applications for permission to participate in combat operations in Ukraine in 2024. In total, 109 citizens of the Czech Republic expressed their desire to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine last year, reported spokesperson for the Czech president's office, Filip Platosh, in a comment to the iROZHLAS portal on January 4.

According to Platosh, throughout 2024, 109 individuals approached the Czech president requesting permission to fight in Ukraine. However, only a third of the applicants received the corresponding approval.

It is noted that before allowing applications to reach the president, they are reviewed by the Czech Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Two-thirds of this year's applications did not pass the screening and received a negative decision from at least one of these ministries.

In total, in 2024, 40 individuals were granted permission to participate in combat on the side of Ukraine, among them – three women. Notably, in 2023, the Czech president allowed only 20 people to serve in the Defense Forces.

“As of now, President Petr Pavel has received applications for permission to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 181 citizens of the Czech Republic. In total, he has approved 60 applications, receiving positive conclusions from all three ministries,” – stated Platosh.

Czech legislation prohibits serving in foreign armed forces, so the president's permission is the only document that can legalize service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Compared to 2023, interest from the Czech Republic in participating in the defense of Ukraine has increased. Since the beginning of the war nearly three years ago, there have been 667 requests, with 447 addressed to former Czech President Miloš Zeman. 132 individuals received the necessary permission from him. However, it is currently unknown how many Czechs are fighting in Ukraine without permission.