Zelensky asked the West to help return men of combat age — Bloomberg

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to help return men of fighting age to Ukraine.

This was reported by Bloomberg.

“Politicians from Poland to Hungary have stated that they will not send refugees back while the war continues,” the publication notes.

However, according to the journalists, the key factor for refusal was economic: “a large part of Central and Eastern Europe is experiencing a labor shortage, and countries like Poland and the Czech Republic do not want to lose people.”

“To put it bluntly, many Czech companies depend on the skills and hard work of Ukrainian refugees. The construction industry, for example, would completely shut down without Ukrainian workers,” said Tomáš Prouza, head of the main lobbying group for Czech retail and the hospitality industry.

Some Ukrainian refugees told the publication that they feel guilty, like “bad people” who “abandoned the country” due to Zelensky’s persistent calls to return.

It is worth noting that a new procedure for issuing documents abroad has come into effect in Ukraine. Now, Ukrainian men of conscription age can obtain or renew their domestic or international passports only if they have military registration documents. Most will need to return to Ukraine to register for military service.

On May 18, 2024, a law tightening mobilization in Ukraine came into force. According to the new regulations, individuals listed in the conscription register will lose the right to leave the country, use their funds, drive a car, conduct real estate transactions and obtain documents—such as passports and international passports.

Earlier, Forbes reported that if Poland begins deporting Ukrainian men, its economy could suffer.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian refugees have started generating income for the Czech Republic. In the first quarter of 2024, revenue from refugees for the first time nearly doubled expenses—by 3 billion crowns.