Volodymyr Kogutyak, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress for Western Europe and Vice President of the Association of Ukrainians in France, visited Kherson, a southern Ukrainian city that endured over 9 months of brutal Russian occupation and relentless shelling by the invaders, during his trip to Ukraine.
“The city is functional until 14:00, when shops and administrations are open; after that, everything comes to a standstill. This is now the edge of the free world; explosions and bombings are heard. But at the same time, all the residents are extremely calm. Everyone keeps saying, ‘We believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine,'” Kogutyak shared.
Currently, the biggest risk for locals is not just constant bombing but drones that the Russians send in from the front line, to drop grenades on the civilians’ heads, while they are merely going about their daily business and simply walking the streets, explained the UWC Vice President.
Regarding humanitarian aid for the city’s residents and the region, Kogutyak held discussions with a representative of the non-governmental organization OperationAid. He also had a meeting with Tetiana Yushko, who is head of the Kherson Oblast Education Department.
“We talked about how the region is restoring education, both online and in-person, how Ukrainian children have lived, and, unfortunately, many are still living under occupation. This meeting took place in a basement where the administration’s office is located, and at the same time, there were noticeable powerful explosions,” remarked Kogutyak.
At the end of his visit to Kherson, the UWC Vice President visited a recently opened café in the city – a symbol of the population’s desire to restore the peace and calm that was cruelly stolen from them by the Russian invasion.
Kogutyak also visited Mykolaiv, participating in a meeting with Dmytro Oboronko, Director of the Mykolaiv Regional Employment Center, discussing how the city can recover from Russian attacks, also the matter of job creation and returning to a normal life.
As part of his visit, Volodymyr Kogutyak also went to Kyiv and Odesa for meetings with diplomats, non-governmental organizations, and the UWC Mission in the Ukrainian capital. All efforts were aimed at coordinating support for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian aggressor.
“Ukraine continues to resist with strength and determination. The population remains calm and united, working daily with its international partners towards defeating Russia and restoring peace. What stood out most to me was hearing this phrase everywhere: ‘We’re doing fine, don’t worry.’ A phrase sometimes spoken under sirens and bombings. This exemplary resilience will undoubtedly lead Ukraine to an inevitable victory,” concluded the UWC Vice President.
