Oleh Tsymbal smiles brightly as he reminisces on his little sister jumping into his arms four months ago when she came to visit him in his new Czech apartment. He remembers gripping her tightly in a soft and warm hug. His smile begins to fade as he admits this was the last time he saw a family member. All except Oleh were able to flee their home in Ukraine.

“It was an existential crisis,” he said.

Around 40% of all Ukrainian children have left the country to seek refuge as well and similar statistics for all Ukrainian women. On the contrary, men above the age of 18 and below the age of 60 are prohibited from leaving the country in case Ukraine needs a larger military force. Oleh was one of the few who were lucky enough to flee his home in Lviv one month before his 18th birthday.

“I would come to Oleh more often, but it is too dangerous for me,” Oleh’s mother exclaims on a phone call. 

Approximately 310 thousand Ukrainian refugees have fled to the Czech Republic since 2024, according to the press in a Visit Ukraine news article. The country has been a supporter of Ukraine and has given great amounts of aid to those on the ground or out seeking refuge in the country, Oleh being one of them.

Oleh said the guilt he felt for leaving his country was overwhelming, however, he is grateful for the freedom he was given in the Czech Republic which has let him pursue his studies of politology and journalism at the University of New York (online).

The Czech Republic not only offers refugees from Ukraine accommodations for transport and legal assistance, but also financial support and housing, according to the nasiukrajinci Czech website, catered towards helping Ukraine. This is how Oleh was able to upgrade from living on the ground of a Czech shopping mall with several other refugees to a small apartment in Prague.

“I’m very grateful for everyone's help, but we can do more,” Oleh said.

Oleh is trying to do more himself by sending money to Ukraine fundraising organizations as well as charity work within Prague refugee camps. His job at the camps is to mentor Ukrainian children, trying to keep their hopes high and mind's distracted from the devastations within their country. He says helping these kids makes him feel like he is still a part of his state.

Alongside refugee camps and fundraisers for Ukraine, the Czech Republic also has a lot of nonprofit organizations that are set up to help give valuable information to Ukraine families. One Nonprofit Organization in Prague called Nusle is open to any Ukrainian refugee who needs guidance with informational support for visas, directions, and in some cases food. One Nusle representative named Olena says that the 2014 established organization is ‘number one in helping the Ukrainian Army on home ground and in Czechia.’ Although Olena did not share what her exact position is at Nusle, she emphasizes that she and all other 20 of her coworkers want the best for Ukrainian people.

The Nusle center invites lecturers and teachers, holds adoption and integration events, and provides consultation meetings for Ukraine refugees. Another Nusle representative explains that the organization aims to expand opportunities for working with a psychotherapist for vulnerable young Ukrainians.

Public protesting for Ukraine is also very prevalent in the Czech Republic. There are rallies and demonstrations every month to express support for their neighboring country.

Sofiia Yatsiuk, a Ukrainian refugee studying in Prague, expresses her gratitude for the Czech Republic.

“Czech people are really supportive. I convinced myself after the Ukrainian demonstration on the 24th of February…I saw one group of men who were carrying posters with slogans. I don't remember it exactly but it was saying something like ‘it's better to have a higher price for bread than to have Russia as a neighbor’” Yatsiuk said.

Although there is lots of support for Ukraine in the Czech Republic, there are some exceptions.

Oleh can recall times when he heard Ukrainians being called slurs or being kicked on the streets of Prague by Czechs, saying things like ‘Go back to Ukraine’ or ‘You don’t deserve to stay here.’

“Russian propaganda works good,” Oleh said.

Oleh has seen a lot of hatred against his country but nothing compared to what his family has seen back in Lviv. Tanks rolling past their house and shots heard in the distance is not an uncommon experience for his sister and mother. Oleh has lost a few friends and many colleagues to Russian arms in Ukraine and worries everyday for his family's safety. However, Oleh does not let himself dread what could happen.

“What is the point of life if you don’t believe in the happy end?” Oleh said.

On an instagram post he created in April of 2023, Oleh depicts the dark streets of Prague at dusk and describes his feelings of loneliness, as well as hope for the future. He explains that ‘there is a certain magic’ in the emptiness he feels and is excited to explore the new city filled with beautiful opportunities for him and many other Ukraine refugees.