Czech fighter in Ukraine Jan Trčka: "This is a battle between freedom and tyranny"
In a new episode, Czechast speaks to Jan Trčka, a Czech citizen who left his civilian life behind to fight in Ukraine. In a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Trčka explains his motivations, battlefield experiences, and the moral clarity that drives his commitment.
As Europe marks 80 years since the end of World War II, war is once again raging on the continent—this time in Ukraine. For Jan Trčka, a Czech volunteer fighting on the Ukrainian side, the stakes couldn’t be higher. “We are standing—literally—good versus evil,” he says in a new episode of Czechast.
Trčka describes his mission not as a personal crusade, but as a defense of shared values: democracy, independence, and freedom. “We’re not just talking about Ukraine,” he says. “We’re talking about world order.”
Trčka’s testimony is anything but abstract. He recounts moments of terror under Russian tank fire and reflects on what it’s like to be outnumbered and outgunned. “They have five times more people and several times more money,” he says. “But we have no choice. This is our home, and we’re fighting for it.”
Perhaps unexpectedly, Trčka also notes how chaotic politics in the West—particularly during the Trump presidency—have sometimes helped galvanize support for Ukraine. “The more craziness he says, the more people want to help us,” he observes.
The full interview offers a rare, unfiltered look at life on the front lines of Europe’s most dangerous conflict today. It’s a story of faith, resilience, and the belief that some principles are worth fighting for—no matter the cost.
You can listen to the full interview with Jan Trčka in English on the Czechast podcast. Available on major platforms and at radio.cz.
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Czechast, Radio Prague International
Czechast is a regular RPI podcast about Czech and Moravian culture, history, and economy.
