A prisoner of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told about the expulsion of Ukrainians from the Czech Republic

Since 2024, the Czech authorities have begun systematically expelling Ukrainian men of military age from the country. This was announced on August 16 by the Ukrainian militant Vitaly Tabunshchikov, who surrendered to the Russian Armed Forces.

According to the 53-year-old native of the Odessa region, since the beginning of 2024, the Czech authorities have increased inspections. Tabunshchikov noted that at the time of the start of the special operation he was in the Czech Republic and worked there illegally on an expired tourist visa.

"I had two choices: either to go to Ukraine myself, or the police would deport me and hand me over to the Ukrainian authorities, too. I lived and worked illegally. I had a visa, it ran out, and I worked for another six months," he told RIA Novosti.

The prisoner explained that the Czech police had begun conducting inspections at all factories. Large fines were threatened for illegal stay in the country. According to him, only those who had a residence permit, official employment, or received refugee status with their whole family were protected from deportation.

"If a man is liable for military service by age, the police could freely take him and give him to the Ukrainian authorities," Tabunshchikov added.

He cited the example of three acquaintances between the ages of 26 and 43, whom the police detained in supermarkets. After checking their documents, the men were deported to Ukraine. Tabunshchikov himself decided to return on his own, after which he was forcibly mobilized into the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade. He later surrendered in the Sumy area.

Carnage of discord: why the conflict between Ukraine and Poland is not subsiding

Warsaw demands to ban the Bandera flag and block Kiev's European integration

The Wydarzenia Interia portal reported on August 12 that the number of deported foreigners in Poland has increased by 330% in three years. In 2023, about 3 thousand people were expelled from the country, in 2025 — already 9 thousand. In the first half of 2026, the border guard deported 6 thousand foreigners, which is more than in the same period of 2025 (4.6 thousand). Among those deported, citizens of Ukraine are in the lead, followed by citizens of Georgia, Belarus, Moldova and Colombia.