Czechia Ends Temporary Protection for Draft-Age Ukrainian Men

Czechia will no longer grant temporary protection to newly arriving Ukrainian men of military age who fail to prove they have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine, following new EU rules published on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The Czech Interior Ministry said the updated EU Council Implementing Decision enters into force on Aug. 6, extending temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion until March 31, 2028, while introducing stricter eligibility requirements for new applicants.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to the ministry, applicants will be required to confirm they have fulfilled their military obligations through Ukraine’s Reserv+ application before temporary protection can be granted. “Our government has long advocated tightening the conditions for temporary protection, and I appreciate that we managed to reach agreement across the member states,” Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said. He added that the new rules are expected to reduce the number of new arrivals “by tens of percent,” easing pressure on Czech healthcare and social services. New requirement applies only to future applicants The new condition applies to first-time applications, repeat applications, and requests for temporary protection for the purpose of family reunification submitted after the rules take effect. However, it does not apply to Ukrainians who already hold valid temporary protection in Czechia and maintain it without interruption. Other Topics of Interest Children’s Hospital in Zaporizhzhia Hit by Russian Strike; Children and Medics Saved by Shelter A Russian strike damaged a children’s hospital in Zaporizhzhia, but patients and staff escaped injury after taking shelter. The ministry said existing beneficiaries will continue to renew their status through the same online registration and in-person verification process used in previous years. Once completed, their protection will be extended until March 31, 2028, without the need to provide proof of military service compliance. The Czech Interior Ministry said additional guidance on the new requirements and the extension procedure will be published on the country’s Information Portal for Foreigners. Previously, the European Commission planned to amend the rules on the admission of Ukrainian war refugees from spring 2027, and has proposed that Ukrainian men of military age who arrive in the EU should no longer be automatically entitled to protection, although they would retain the right to apply for asylum. In Ukraine, military-age men are subject to an exit ban. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.