A Ukrainian man, Volodymyr K., has lost his appeal against the Czech Ministry of Interior’s decision to deny him international protection. The Plzeň Regional Court ruled against his administrative lawsuit, upholding the June decision. The ministry had rejected his request for protection due to the ongoing war in his home country, Ukraine. The court effectively stated that defending one’s homeland is a civic duty. This ruling underscores the challenging landscape for Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum based solely on the conflict. It suggests the Czech Republic views returning to defend Ukraine as a reasonable expectation, rather than grounds for asylum. The full implications of this decision for other Ukrainian asylum seekers remain to be seen.