Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, condemned Czech President Petr Pavel’s decision to permit Czech citizens to join Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) in the ongoing conflict.
Strategically Negligible
According to Slutsky, by granting this approval, Pavel has effectively “signed a death sentence” for Czech volunteers, acting in the interests of U.S. geopolitical aims and short-term benefits for Kyiv, according to Lenta.
Slutsky argued that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is eager to see more foreign fighters in the AFU ranks, yet direct involvement of Czech citizens creates a “negative precedent” for the Czech Republic itself.
He added that 60 Czech fighters would not significantly impact the battlefield, dismissing their presence as strategically negligible.
Sweden Allows Citizens to Join
Under Czech law, citizens are prohibited from joining foreign military formations without presidential consent. To date, over 180 Czechs have requested permission to join the AFU, though not all applications have been approved.
Reports indicate that since the beginning of the conflict, roughly 150 Czechs have fought in Ukraine, with more expected to join following potential legislative changes aimed at easing the application process.
Czech citizens in the AFU reportedly serve as drone operators, medics, and reconnaissance personnel.
President Pavel’s decision comes as part of the Czech Republic’s broader support for Ukraine, which includes a recent pledge to deliver 500,000 rounds of ammunition by the end of this year.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized that the Czech government, with additional support from the Netherlands and Denmark, will continue providing arms to Kyiv.
In recent months, foreign participation in Ukraine’s defense has gained traction. For example, Sweden has allowed its citizens to join the AFU without legal repercussions, framing it as support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
However, foreign fighters have faced mixed legal responses; in July, a Czech national, Filip Siman, was sentenced to seven years in prison for looting while serving without permission in Ukraine.
