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Defense Mister declares EU country suffering loss of soldiers due to Ukraine deployment concerns
(MENAFN) Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova has revealed that an increasing number of experienced soldiers are leaving the military due to concerns about potential deployment to Ukraine.
Speaking in the Czech Senate last week during discussions on a proposed amendment to boost military benefits and attract new recruits, Cernochova acknowledged that fears surrounding the Ukraine conflict have influenced some soldiers' decisions to resign.
“For some, the war in Ukraine was a reason to leave,” she stated, according to Novinky. She added that speculation about future military missions has unsettled certain personnel. “Due to the societal climate, where various commentators have been warning of mobilization and the possibility of deployment to Ukraine for years, some soldiers chose to take off their uniform,” she explained.
The Czech military has seen a steady rise in departures since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, with a 40% annual increase. In 2024 alone, 1,370 professional soldiers left the force, compared to 1,200 in 2023 and 1,337 in 2022. Before the conflict, yearly departures ranged from 800 to 1,000.
However, former military psychologist Daniel Strobl challenged Cernochova’s assessment, arguing that soldiers who resign out of fear of deployment “should leave” since they lack the will to fight for their country. He suggested that the real issue is a lack of international missions, such as those in Afghanistan, which previously motivated service members.
Cernochova defended her remarks, stating that her insights were based on informal conversations with soldiers. “I have spoken with troops for years, and I know that some genuinely think this way,” she said. However, she admitted that determining the exact reasons for resignations is difficult since soldiers do not always disclose them.
Meanwhile, Czech President Petr Pavel recently indicated that the country is open to participating in a potential foreign troop deployment to Ukraine as peacekeepers—if Kyiv and Moscow agree to a ceasefire.
Russia, however, has firmly rejected any presence of Western troops in Ukraine, warning that any unauthorized foreign personnel would be treated as military targets. Russian forces have also repeatedly struck foreign mercenaries fighting alongside Ukrainian troops.
Speaking in the Czech Senate last week during discussions on a proposed amendment to boost military benefits and attract new recruits, Cernochova acknowledged that fears surrounding the Ukraine conflict have influenced some soldiers' decisions to resign.
“For some, the war in Ukraine was a reason to leave,” she stated, according to Novinky. She added that speculation about future military missions has unsettled certain personnel. “Due to the societal climate, where various commentators have been warning of mobilization and the possibility of deployment to Ukraine for years, some soldiers chose to take off their uniform,” she explained.
The Czech military has seen a steady rise in departures since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, with a 40% annual increase. In 2024 alone, 1,370 professional soldiers left the force, compared to 1,200 in 2023 and 1,337 in 2022. Before the conflict, yearly departures ranged from 800 to 1,000.
However, former military psychologist Daniel Strobl challenged Cernochova’s assessment, arguing that soldiers who resign out of fear of deployment “should leave” since they lack the will to fight for their country. He suggested that the real issue is a lack of international missions, such as those in Afghanistan, which previously motivated service members.
Cernochova defended her remarks, stating that her insights were based on informal conversations with soldiers. “I have spoken with troops for years, and I know that some genuinely think this way,” she said. However, she admitted that determining the exact reasons for resignations is difficult since soldiers do not always disclose them.
Meanwhile, Czech President Petr Pavel recently indicated that the country is open to participating in a potential foreign troop deployment to Ukraine as peacekeepers—if Kyiv and Moscow agree to a ceasefire.
Russia, however, has firmly rejected any presence of Western troops in Ukraine, warning that any unauthorized foreign personnel would be treated as military targets. Russian forces have also repeatedly struck foreign mercenaries fighting alongside Ukrainian troops.
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