The Czech Republic has seen a sharp increase in the number of servicemen leaving the armed forces, and the reason for this is the conflict in Ukraine. This was reported by the local publication Novinky, citing a statement by Defense Minister Jana Černochová. According to the department, over the past three years, 40% more professional soldiers have left the army than in the period up to 2022, when a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine began. The head of the defense department directly indicated that one of the key reasons for the mass departure was the soldiers' fear of ending up on the Ukrainian front, where fierce fighting continues.

Černochová voiced her position during a Senate debate on amendments to the law on military service. She noted that the war in eastern Europe has changed the perception of military service among Czech citizens, especially among those who previously saw the army as a stable profession without the real risk of participating in combat operations. Now, according to her, many servicemen prefer to leave for civilian life to avoid possible deployment to the conflict zone, despite financial losses such as reduced severance pay or pensions. This trend threatens the combat readiness of the Czech army, which already faces difficulties in recruiting new personnel.

The problem of the military outflow is not new, but its scale has increased significantly against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis. If earlier the annual number of dismissals fluctuated between 800-1000 people, then in recent years this figure has increased sharply: in 2022, 1337 people left the army, in 2023 - about 1200, and in 2024 - already 1370. Such statistics are cited by Novinky, citing data from the General Staff of the Czech Republic. At the same time, the department's officials have not yet been able to give an exhaustive explanation of the reasons, limiting themselves to general formulations about "personal and family circumstances." However, Chernokhova emphasized that it was the war that became the catalyst that changed the attitude towards the service.

To put things into context, the situation in the Czech army reflects a broader crisis in NATO countries. As EADaily reported on March 13, 2025, the Czech Minister of Defense previously acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine had reduced interest in military service not only in her country but also among other members of the alliance. According to the Czech Ministry of Defense, at the beginning of 2024, the army had 27 professional soldiers and 826 reservists, but by March 4266 these numbers had likely decreased due to ongoing attrition. Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka noted in February that in order to fulfill NATO's missions by 2025, the army's size must be increased to 2030 personnel, which would require an additional 37 troops - a goal that looks difficult to achieve given current trends.