The head of the Czech Ministry of the Interior, Vít Rakušan, has expressed support for establishing repatriation centers aimed at helping Ukrainian refugees return to their homeland.
These centers will provide essential services such as information on return opportunities, legal assistance, and general support for those wishing to go back to Ukraine for post-war reconstruction.
On Tuesday, Rakušan met with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov to discuss the initiative. Chernyshov emphasized that the goal is to motivate refugees to return and contribute to rebuilding Ukraine. The Czech Republic is not alone in this effort, as similar centers are planned for Germany and Poland as well.
Rakušan reassured Chernyshov that the Czech Republic remains committed to supporting Ukraine. “Our strategic interest is a strong and united Ukraine. We understand that victory over Russia and the post-war reconstruction of the country cannot be achieved without the return of its citizens to their homes. We fully support the intention to motivate Ukrainian citizens to return and the creation of unity centers,” he said.
Discussions are still ongoing regarding the scope of services these centers will provide and the regulations surrounding them. The Czech Republic currently hosts nearly 400,000 Ukrainian refugees who have temporary protection, which grants them access to state health insurance, education, and the labor market. This temporary protection has been extended within the European Union until March of next year, and the operational details of this support system should be clarified in the coming months.
