UWC leadership in Ukraine: forever grateful for the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s courage and dedication

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) leader delegation is on a working visit to Ukraine. The leaders are meeting with Ukrainian high-ranking officials and political and community leaders, visiting Ukraine’s defenders, educational institutions, hospitals, and places of remembrance. 

“My visit to Ukraine began with the most important aspect: paying respects to the memory of Ukrainian defenders. They are true heroes, we will never forget their sacrifices. We stand united as Ukrainians, forever grateful for their courage and dedication. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” said Paul Grod, visiting a military cemetery in Lviv, which hosts over 250 fallen Ukrainian heroes’ graves. 

In Lviv, Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod, UWC Vice Presidents Stefan Romaniw and Andriy Futey met briefly with Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. 

For the working session, the UWC leaders met with the Head of the Lviv Oblast State/Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, and the Chief of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy, Lieutenant General Pavlo Tkachuk. 

“I am sincerely grateful to the entire Ukrainian World Congress community and personally to Paul Grod for their perseverance and unity around Ukraine in this difficult time for our country,” noted Lieutenant General Tkachuk. 

UWC leaders discussed support for developing Ukrainian schooling and education abroad with the newly elected Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Taras Dobko, Ph.D., and his colleagues. 

The delegation also met with the UWC’s long-standing partner, the International Institute for Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations (MIOK).  

“An inspiring meeting in Lviv during wartime! Paul Grod and Stefan Romaniw – you are incredible for your position, work, support for Ukraine, assistance to the Armed Forces, and projects.  It’s great to come to us from Canada and Australia! We appreciate our partnership with the Ukrainian World Congress! Good luck!” commented Iryna Kluchkovska, MIOK Chair. 

A meeting with the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, in Kyiv focused on ways the global Ukrainian community and the UWC initiative UniteWithUkraine can further support the Ukrainian people in their defense against the Russian aggressor. 

“Our meeting with Ukrainian Defense Intel Chief K. Budanov was optimistic, reflected the high morale of Ukraine’s fighting troops and reinforced our certainty in Ukraine’s victory against Russia, the world’s greatest threat to freedom and democracy,” concluded UWC Vice President, President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Andriy Futey. 

A meeting with Vice Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov and CEO of Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytskyi focused on the rebuilding of Ukraine and support for the Ukrainian energy system. 

UWC leaders discussed support for Ukraine in the information and cultural spheres during a meeting with Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. Paul Grod, Stefan Romaniw, and Andriy Futey also inspected the construction of the second phase of the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide. 

The delegation’s visit will last until the middle of the week, and on July 19, Paul Grod will meet with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Moldova.