Deputies from the Polish Sejm Came to Vinnytsia for the First Time During the War

Representatives of political forces from Europe - deputies of the Polish Sejm Tomasz Kostuś and Wojciech Krul - arrived in Vinnytsia for the first time during the war. On May 22, they met people who suffered from the war and found refuge in Vinnytsia City Territorial Community.

An excursion was held for them at the dormitory of one of the vocational schools to show how IDPs live. In addition, they talked to people from Luhansk, Mariupol, Severodonetsk - some left there with their whole families, some were less fortunate.

According to Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia Andrii Ocheretnyi, the visit of the delegation from the Polish cities of Katowice and Opole was a personal one for the deputies, as they also do their best to help Ukrainians at home - Poland received the largest number of forced refugees from Ukraine.

"Poland became the first country to react immediately to the russian invasion, and also concentrated with its example the aid from all over the European Union. Cargoes with humanitarian aid from various Polish cities constantly come to Vinnytsia. In times of war, this support is extremely valuable. However, this visit can be called personal. Wojciech Krul hosts several families from Ukraine, including those who left Vinnytsia - it was Olha from Vinnytsia who gave birth to a daughter, Oleksandra, in Poland,” said Andrii Ocheretnyi.

He also added that next week we expect Polish partners to provide humanitarian aid - medicines for the needs of medical institutions in Vinnytsia. Possibilities of improving living conditions in the dormitory where IDPs stayed were also discussed.

“Now our common goal is to involve foreign partners in improving the living conditions in the hostel. We have already reached an agreement with our German partners GIZ to repair the roof and the upper ninth floor. In addition, I hope that there will be new opportunities for the transfer of humanitarian missions. I am confident that the fuel crisis will pass with the help of our Polish partners in the near future," he added.

According to Wojciech Krul, the decision to come to Vinnytsia is due to the fact that Poles want to support Ukraine at all levels in these difficult times.

“The Ukrainian people are very close to us. More than three million Ukrainians have now found refuge in Poland, we hear the Ukrainian language everywhere, so we already understand it very well,” said Wojciech Krul.

His colleague, Tomasz Kostuś, was moved by the stories of people affected by the war and added that Poland would continue to support Ukraine in all possible ways.

"Helping Ukraine is our Christian, political, civic duty. Our official delegation to hospitable Vinnytsia is not the only step towards cooperation. Today, our President Andrzej Duda is also in Ukraine, he is to speak in the Parliament of Ukraine for the first time since February 24,” Tomasz Kostuś said.