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In 2022 Ukmergė residents joined forces to raise support for Ukrainians

On 24 February last year, following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, the Municipality of Ukmergė District took action to help its partner cities in Ukraine: the city of Kamianets-Podilsky and two new partner cities, Krasyliv and Korosten.

First of all, a bank account was set up to collect funds to help Ukraine, which is affected by hostilities. In 2022, EUR 54 904.13 was donated to this account, EUR 10 000 of which was provided by the Ukmergė District Municipal Council.

The funds raised were used not only to buy food, medicines, hygiene products, bedding and other household goods, but also essential equipment such as power generators, heaters, night vision devices, etc. Also, donations have been used for the transportation of goods for the people of Ukraine and for the admission and accommodation of children who have come for a short reprieve from war.

The Municipality's administration organised the collection and dispatch of donations to the partner cities. Businesses and institutions, communities and residents of Ukmergė willingly contributed to the collection of donations.

10 humanitarian shipments were dispatched to Korosten, Krasyliv and Kamianets-Podilsky, consisting of medicines, long-lasting foodstuffs such as flour, cereals, sugar, soups, canned vegetables and meat, etc., drinking water, women's, men's and children's clothing, socks and shoes, hygiene products, baby formula and nappies, sleeping bags, etc.

The municipality, together with Aljuva UAB, cooperated and helped the Ukrainians fighting in the war to acquire much-needed minibuses. Two 17-seater Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses, manufactured in 2004-2005, were delivered to Ustyluh, a town in the Volyn region of Ukraine.

A 38-seat Volvo B6 bus, no longer in use, donated by Ukmergė Bus Park UAB, was sent to Korosten, and a 9-seat Ford Transit minibus, donated by the Ukmergė Social Services Centre, was sent to Krasyliv. Both vehicles were loaded with humanitarian aid.

The Ukmergė Fire and Rescue Authority delivered to Kamianets-Podilsky a no longer used fire truck "ZIL-131", manufactured in 1977. Together with the fire truck, diesel infrared heaters and trench candles made by the communities of Ukmergė district were handed over.

A number of essential equipment was sent to the partner cities: 5 diesel power generators, 4 inverter generators, 10 petrol power generators, 4 diesel infrared heaters and 4 diesel air heaters. All of the above equipment was useful for the Ukrainians experiencing power outages.

The shipments also included 2 stoves made from car rims and 6 boxes of handmade trench candles.

14 boxes containing 610 pairs of new, warm, winter socks were also delivered to Krasyliv. They were collected during the campaign "Let's knit socks for Ukrainian soldiers" organised by Ukmergė Culture Centre.

A summer holiday camp for Ukrainian children was also organised. On 5 September, 60 children from Ukraine arrived from the Ukrainian partner city of Kamianets-Podilsky to the camp in the village of Slabada, Vepriai parish. The Ukrainians, aged between 7 and 18, spent ten days there. Various active and sporting games, education and entertainment activities were organised for the campers. The children cycled and walked around Vepriai, visited Ukmergė, went on a sightseeing tour of Vilnius and Trakai.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to support the Ukrainians.

There are currently 406 Ukrainians living in Ukmergė, 210 of whom have already left for Ukraine. Around 25% of Ukrainians live in municipal housing, and 75% of Ukrainian families have been hosted by residents of Ukmergė city and district.

Information from IT and public relations department