Four Years Since Invasion: Czech Republic Stands Firmly with Ukraine

Prague and the Czech Republic Honor Ukraine

Four years have passed since Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian border on the night of February 23-24, 2022. The Czech Republic is marking this anniversary with extensive events, the largest of which took place on Saturday afternoon in Prague's Old Town Square, where thousands gathered under the slogan "Together for Ukraine." In his speech, President Petr Pavel emphasized that Czech support for Kyiv is unwavering.

The program began with the "March of the Lost Flag," in which participants carried a large Ukrainian flag from the National Museum to Old Town Square. Speakers on the podium included legendary hockey goalkeeper Dominik Hašek and film director Agnieszka Holland. Mothers of fallen Czech volunteers fighting in Ukraine reminded attendees that freedom comes at the ultimate price.

Commemorative Events in Cities Across the Country

The events were not limited to Prague. Rallies and charity markets took place in Brno, Olomouc, Zlín, and Plzeň. In Liberec, participants symbolically decorated the Tree of Hope, while in Hradec Králové, people could try their hand at knitting camouflage nets for soldiers. In approximately seventeen cities, mock-ups of Russian drones, which Russia uses to systematically attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, were installed in squares. The "Gift for Putin" initiative aimed to give Czechs a direct view of the brutality of modern warfare.

Concurrently, a day-long broadcast marathon, "Operation Hope," featured dozens of guests and a fundraising drive for a rehabilitation clinic in Lviv.

Czech Ammunition Initiative: A Key Contribution for Kyiv

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Czech Republic has been one of Ukraine's most significant supporters in Europe. President Pavel recently released figures for the ammunition initiative, which he launched in February 2024: in two years, it has delivered 4.4 million large-caliber artillery rounds to Ukraine, representing more than 50 percent of all shells received by Kyiv from its allies. Nearly 2 million pieces arrived in 2025 alone. More than eighteen countries, including Germany, Denmark, France, and Poland, have financially supported the initiative.

According to calculations by the German Kiel Institute, the total volume of Czech government aid to Ukraine has exceeded 232 billion crowns, securing the Czech Republic fifth place within the European Union – a remarkable result for a medium-sized state.

Nearly 400,000 Refugees Have Found a Home in the Czech Republic

The war has brought an unprecedented wave of migration to the Czech Republic. To date, authorities have registered over 398,000 people with temporary protection, with adult women making up almost half and children a third. Approximately 172,000 economically active Ukrainians are working in the Czech labor market – eight out of ten who are eligible to work are actually employed.

Their tax and insurance contributions have reached 8.2 billion crowns, while state expenditures to support them amounted to 3.9 billion. The integration of refugees has thus become a benefit, not a burden, for the Czech economy. Czech humanitarian organizations helped nearly 880,000 Ukrainians directly in their homeland last year.

Pavel: Russia Must Not Be Rewarded for Aggression

President Pavel has repeatedly warned that peace in Ukraine must be just and lasting – not a capitulation. International law must not be sacrificed to geopolitical calculations. "If aggression is rewarded, we are sending a dangerous signal to the whole world," the Czech president emphasized. He also called on the United States to increase pressure on Moscow, without which, he believes, a real peace is not realistic.

Four years after the start of the invasion, the Czech Republic remains one of Kyiv's most determined allies. Today's commemorative events show that this support does not rest solely on the shoulders of the government, but is shared by the entire Czech society.