Ulyana and Kate dance in the living room of their shelter home, Dům Dobra, in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Czech Republic responded immediately, enacting a protection system in March 2022 that lets Ukrainian refugees stay in the Czech Republic with free access to the labor market, education, and health insurance.
Maksim and Sasha play outside of their shelter home, Dům Dobra, in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. As of April 2023, there are around 325,000 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. Since February 2022, the Czech Republic has issued over 500,000 temporary protection visas to Ukrainians.
Nazar rides his bike across the living room area of Dům Dobra in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Dům Dobra, or “House of Goodness” in English, has provided a home for over 800 Ukrainians who had to leave their country after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Although the Czech Republic is accommodating Ukrainian refugees, there have been changes to support. As of July 2023, state humanitarian accommodation will only be free for 150 days after temporary protection is granted. After 150 days, only vulnerable groups — like children under 18, students under 26, disabled individuals, pregnant women, and a few other groups — will be granted free housing. Others will have to pay soaring prices for homes in Prague’s housing market crisis.
Maksim chases Sasha with a stick outside of their shelter home, Dům Dobra, in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. With working parents and older guardians, Maksim and Sasha spend every day together, watching videos on their phones and running around outside.
Sasha and Kate talk inside while Maksim gets yelled at for using another child’s bike at Dům Dobra in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The Czech Republic has the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita as of Aug. 10, 2023, with 32.2 refugees per 1,000 people. The EU average is 9.1 refugees per 1,000 people.
Nazar, Maksim, Sasha, and Kate enjoy each other’s company at Dům Dobra in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. About 45,000 of the Ukrainian refugees entering the Czech Republic are living in the Central Region of Prague.
Sasha prepares to catch a ball from Maksim while Kate watches on the ledge of a wall outside of Dům Dobra in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Two-thirds of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic are women, and over 100,000 are children as of April 2023.
Maksim helps Sasha up from a hill outside their shelter home, Dům Dobra, in the Karlin Prague 8 District in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. As these children navigate their new way of living, they lean on each other for support and familial camaraderie.