PRAG

Czech President Petr Pavel on Monday granted permission to 20 Czech citizens to fight for Ukraine.

In a statement released by the presidency, it was disclosed that Pavel, who has been in office for a year, has given the green light to 20 individuals seeking to participate in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

While 20 applicants were approved to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against war with Russia, an additional 56 volunteers expressed their willingness to join the cause.

However, their requests were not approved by Pavel, the statement said.

According to local media reports, former President Milos Zeman had allowed approximately 150 Czech citizens to fight in Ukraine since the start of the war.

Without the president's permission, Czech citizens cannot fight in another army.