Across twenty Czech cities thousands of people marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 21 February 2026. The largest rally, held on Prague’s Old Town Square, drew an estimated 8,000 participants and featured speeches by President Petr Pavel and Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Zvarych. Organisers – including Člověk v tísni and the European Congress of Ukrainians – placed special emphasis on the economic and cultural contribution of the 400,000 Ukrainians now living under temporary-protection visas. President Pavel thanked citizens for “not succumbing to fatigue” and underscored that refugee integration is “an investment, not a burden”. He reaffirmed the coalition’s plan to convert temporary protection into a five-year residence permit linked to employment – a measure strongly supported by business associations but opposed by the nationalist SPD party. In Brno, speakers from the Ukrainian Initiative of South Moravia noted that labour-market participation among Ukrainians has climbed to 53 percent, generating more in taxes than the state spends on subsistence allowances. Beyond symbolism, the rallies functioned as live outreach fairs: NGOs ran booths offering legal advice on digital visa renewals, while employers in construction and social care collected CVs. In Olomouc, a “job-matching tent” arranged 120 on-the-spot interviews, demonstrating how civic activism and talent acquisition increasingly overlap in a tight labour market. Mobility specialists attending the Prague event reported strong interest in Czech-language courses and employer-sponsored apprentice schemes. Security was largely uneventful, but police reminded organisers that from April 2026 all mass events expecting foreign participants must pre-register under the amended Public Assemblies Act – part of a broader move to synchronise migration control with event management. Companies flying staff in for short-term assignments should therefore coordinate with hosts well in advance.
![Nation-Wide ‘Together for Ukraine’ Rallies Highlight Refugee Integration and Economic Contribution]()
At that logistical juncture, many organisations turn to specialist platforms such as VisaHQ for help. The service’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) offers step-by-step guidance on visas, residence permits and invitation letters, letting HR teams upload documents online and track status in real time—an efficient backstop when deadlines for rallies, conferences or temporary projects are tight.
The rallies also served as a barometer of public sentiment. A flash poll by STEM, released the same evening, found 71 percent of Czechs still support humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, up three points since November. For employers, sustained public backing reduces reputational risk when hiring Ukrainian talent and signals political space for further streamlining of work-permit procedures.
At that logistical juncture, many organisations turn to specialist platforms such as VisaHQ for help. The service’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) offers step-by-step guidance on visas, residence permits and invitation letters, letting HR teams upload documents online and track status in real time—an efficient backstop when deadlines for rallies, conferences or temporary projects are tight.
The rallies also served as a barometer of public sentiment. A flash poll by STEM, released the same evening, found 71 percent of Czechs still support humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, up three points since November. For employers, sustained public backing reduces reputational risk when hiring Ukrainian talent and signals political space for further streamlining of work-permit procedures.
