The representative office opened in Odessa cannot be called a consulate, as it is designed exclusively for Volyn Czechs and will not operate permanently. The representative office was opened, naturally, with the consent of the Ukrainian authorities.
Employees of Czech ministries are in Odessa, meeting with Volyn Czechs from early morning until late evening to find out what help they need and whether all of them want to move to the Czech Republic under the Czech government's repatriation program for compatriots. “Our employees meet with compatriots on the spot to understand how interested they are in this program,” said Radio Prague press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michaela Lagronová.
The Foreign Ministry reported that at least 200 people have already decided to return to their historical homeland. The first group of Volyn Czechs is expected in March. The Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic will provide each of them with free housing for six months (we are talking about departmental dormitories and hotels). Also, all Volyn Czechs who move to the Czech Republic will receive a one-time financial assistance: 50 thousand crowns for an adult (about 1,800 euros) and 20 thousand crowns (about 750 euros) for a child.
How will the Volyn Czechs travel home? The first option is that the Czech government will send a plane for them. That is if a large group of migrants gathers at the same time. There is also a second option. “They will be paid part of the costs of moving and transporting movable property,” explains Interior Ministry press secretary Petra Kucherova.
The head of the social movement "Seven Rays", human rights activist and associate of Václav Havel Věra Doušová has long been dealing with the problem of Volyn Czechs. She constantly writes and calls all Czech agencies: "Help compatriots return home. There is a war in Ukraine, it is unsafe to live there." Věra Doušová is glad that finally the country's government has begun to take clear and concrete steps to help Volyn Czechs. "The war has been going on for more than a year, many of our compatriots have already died there. People are now only concerned about staying alive," says Věra Doušová.
Volyn Czechs live in different regions of Ukraine. In Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, and Odessa regions. And also in Donbas, where hostilities are ongoing. “The main problem for these people in the war zone is somehow getting to Odessa,” worries Věra Doušová.
The Czech authorities officially state that Donbas and other eastern regions are the territory of Ukraine. But will they in practice somehow help Volyn Czechs from eastern Ukraine? Does the ongoing repatriation program also affect them? The press secretary of the President of the Czech Republic Jiří Ovčáček answers this question: “Definitely yes. This applies to our compatriots from all over Ukraine – both western and eastern.”
Among the Volyn Czechs living in Donbas is Oleg Pirkla. He and his family dream of returning to their historical homeland. The task for Oleg's family is not only to get out of the territories where military actions are taking place but also to cross the security zones created under the Minsk memorandum. That is, to solve two issues: how to leave the territory of the self-proclaimed republic and how to get to the part of Ukraine where there are no hostilities.
Czech diplomats promised to help Oleg Pirkla. Ukrainian authorities will also make every effort to ensure that his family can get to Odessa. If everything goes well, Oleg Pirkla and his family will be among the first repatriates who will come to the Czech Republic at the beginning of March. Oleg Pirkla believes that everything will be fine: “We still have Czech roots, and I think that the people of the Czech Republic will welcome us with joy.”