Thousands of protesters rallied in Prague’s Old Town Square to combat fading support for Ukraine, gathering attention on the third anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Pavel and Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvaryč addressed the crowd flooded with Ukrainian and Czech flags, sunflowers, and derogatory banners depicting Vladimir Putin.
“I think support [for Ukraine] went a bit down, which is something that really upsets me,” Czech student Mayda said standing in the center of the crowd. “I think that a lot of people tend to forget that there’s actually a war going on.”
The Czech Republic has provided 7.3 billion CZK worth of military equipment to Ukraine since 2022. On the contrary, 60% of Czechs believe they have taken in more Ukrainian refugees than the country can handle, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research in Fall 2024.
“Of course everyone is exhausted from this war. I don’t have my home anymore,” Ukrainian refugee, Mykola Pashkov said. “I’m from the southeast, my city is occupied currently. The west, they would like to stop; I don’t want to stop, I want my home back.”
After the speeches and musical performances, the massive crowd led by volunteers, marched through the Old Town, across Charles Bridge, and eventually ended at the statue of Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko.
“I have sympathy for what is happening because this country has a pretty similar history. I have a friend from Ukraine and I’m afraid for her safety. I wish that Ukraine [will] be free entirely,” a young Czech citizen, Katherine, said. “We might be divided on many different less important topics, but about human rights, we are usually united.”
Petr Pavel has promised to continue support for Ukraine in 2025, extending protection to Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic and restricting access to Russian citizens seeking Czech citizenship.
