Vice Mayor of Vinnytsia: We know what Russia is going to do now

He, together with two representatives of the municipality of Vinytsia, Denis Mazurenka and Andrejs Kondratovs, attended the birthday of the capital of Aukštaitija at the invitation of Panevėžys mayor Rytis Račkauskas.

Vinycia – a Ukrainian city located about two hundred kilometers southwest of Kyiv, which had about 400,000 inhabitants before the war. population.

This big city in south-western Ukraine has an eight-year partnership with Panevėžys.

Although Vinnytsia is quite far from the front line, since the first days of the war, this city has not only been attacked by Russian cruise missiles, but has also become a trajectory point for passing missiles. Exhausted by constant tension and crushed by the killing machine, Ukrainians are already preparing for the coming winter, which, according to military experts, will be even more brutal than the last.

It was a great pleasure to meet you at Panevėžys’ jubilee birthday. What impressions do you take with you to Ukraine?

First of all, we are very pleased to have been invited. For those of us who have come from war, it is emotional to see a peaceful life. More than once we were moved to tears, because the celebration of your city reminded us of the peaceful days that have moved away from us so far that it seems to have remained beyond the absolute limit in another life, another world. It is good for us to see people who are relaxed, in a good mood, gathered in a crowd. In Ukraine, public mass events no longer take place due to security, there were not even September 1st holidays near schools.

We visited not only Panevėžys, but also Lithuania for the first time.

The birthday procession made a big impression. Very cool, powerful, lots of positive emotions! There have never been such in our city.

Vinycia’s birthday is also at a similar time – on the ninth of September. This year it was 660 years, but of course there was no celebration.

Every day we receive terrible news from Ukraine. How is Vinycia living now?

Vinycia started preparing for winter. We realize that Russia will bombard critical infrastructure – power plants, heating networks, water supply, so special points are now being set up where people can warm up at least for a short time, charge their mobile phones, and drink hot tea. Shelters with heating, the ability to prepare hot food, and sewerage are vitally necessary. These are primarily installed in kindergartens and schools. Unfortunately, their price is high.

Vinycia constantly lives in the noise of sirens. Sirens are wailing – that means an enemy missile or drone is coming. The Russian-launched missiles follow the trajectory of the river that flows through the city, allowing them to fly lower, above the water, and thus not be detected by radars. They usually pass by our city and fly away, but every time we are not sure that they are not specifically intended for Vinnytsia. That’s why sirens wail several times a day, we go to hideouts, look for cover. It disrupts the daily routine and harms psychological well-being.

We receive reports of attacks. If the missile is flying from Russian territory, it means that it can hit after a certain time, maybe an hour. And if from the Black Sea, then in half an hour. However, there are also missiles that we only find out about when they hit.

This is how Vinycia lives, and she is far from the front.

During the war, Vinnytsia became a center for local refugees – you shelter Ukrainians who left war zones. What challenges does this pose for your city?

At the beginning of the war, a huge number of people passed through Vinnytsia in transit – we cannot say exactly how many, but we think it was several million. This was due to transit roads to Poland and Moldova, which pass through our city.

Currently, 46 thousand people are registered in Vinytia. war refugees. In reality, there are much more of them. Some of them rent houses, but the majority live in dormitories, in schools where classes are not held, because there are no hiding places. This causes problems, after all, the school year begins and students have to share dormitories with refugees, and huddling in classrooms is, of course, neither cozy nor comfortable.

Yes, it works, but with caveats. Those schools and those kindergartens where there is an opportunity for children to hide from the danger of rockets are working. Since there are not many such institutions, education is taught in two shifts. In addition, some of the students study in contact mode for one week, and some – distance learning. Next week, these groups change. This is not normal, but there are no other options. Substitute education allows about 85-90 percent of the city’s students to study in the contact mode as well. Currently, the construction of 12 hiding places is underway in Vinytia.

What was destroyed in Vinnytsia? What else can be rebuilt?

The airport was destroyed on the very first day of the war. Bombed very heavily, casualties were inevitable.

If you have heard, a rocket hit the Officers’ House last July. They have a concert hall, which is one of the symbols of Vinnytsia. The dead are many, including children.

These rockets – there were three of them – came from the stratosphere. It is impossible to knock them down. After reaching the city, they plunged down in an almost vertical trajectory, causing an indescribable sound. You look at them flying overhead and feel completely helpless. The wave caused by the flight alone was so strong that everyone in their path was swept off their feet. After one flew by, two more sprung up from the other sides. All of them were aimed at one point. Around him, at a distance of 150 meters, all the dead and the dead suffered contusions.

Currently, most of the destroyed buildings have already been rebuilt. But the Officers’ House is not yet.

What challenges do local businesses face? Is it possible to work in such conditions?

Our business is working. You understand – the economy wins the war. Businesses would not work – they do not know what would be waiting.

Business exists, people work, salaries are paid. Of course, not in the same capacity as before the war.

And what is the situation of the city’s cultural life?

We are trying to keep theaters, cinemas, children’s groups, libraries, and the sports sector open. Basically, everything. Vinycia must live. But there are a lot of distractions. We even have to stop the performance so that everyone can get down to the hiding place due to the danger of the weather. After that, the performance continues again. Is it normal? During the war, yes.

Hard question. In principle, all kinds of help would be needed.

Local refugees need a lot of help. They lack housing, food, and there are a lot of such people in the city. Shelters, electricity generators, materials and means to rebuild destroyed infrastructure are vitally needed. We need everything to help us survive the coming winter.

Which countries have you received the most help from?

Of course, from the Baltic countries, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom. It would be difficult to say exactly how many from which country. Ukraine receives everything together, and then distributes it around the country – we rarely receive cargo directly to the city. We fondly remember the cargo sent by the people of your town last year. It contained not only much-needed food products and hygiene products, but we also found warm wishes for strength and care, and symbols expressing unity. Thank you very much. It is public knowledge that Poland and the Baltic countries provide the biggest aid to Ukraine.

A large Ukrainian diaspora lives in Panevėžys. I heard you had a chance to meet them. How do they feel here, what were you talking about?

Yes, we have met. They got used to Lithuania, according to them, they welcomed everyone here very warmly. He feels good in Lithuania, he can already speak Lithuanian. We ourselves see how Lithuania welcomed them with open arms.

Of course, they are all waiting for victory, promising to return home, despite the fact that for some there is nowhere to return. There are no more houses where they used to live.

We talked to a woman from Kramatorsk. She said that she will still return to Ukraine, even though her home is no longer there.

And what would you wish for our city – Vinycia’s partner?

You know what surprised us when we arrived in Lithuania? The fact that road infrastructure construction works are underway, streets are intensively maintained. When a country undertakes such large-scale projects, it means that a bright future is expected. It’s a lot these days.

We wish the city of Panevėžys prosperity, happy prospects and, of course, peace.

In Panevėžys, we saw honest and united people. We watched the festive birthday procession – every school, every kindergarten, every organization participated. Well organized, you all came together as a nation. We can learn from you.

The war will end and we will celebrate the same – after all, we have something to show for it.

Ukrainians are great people, so when the war is over, we will rebuild our country and celebrate with you.

Thank you for conversation. Strength to you and peace!