In the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory was established in Warsaw by representatives of Ukrainian NGOs together with the Casimir Pulaski Foundation.
The Centre has stated that its objectives are: to support and coordinate efforts of non-governmental organizations in Ukraine and provide assistance for Ukrainian activists arriving in Poland; build international support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression; support relations between the international community and civil society in Ukraine; develop and advocate the agenda of Ukraine’s post-war rebuilding, transformation, and accession to EU and NATO.
The Centre also intends to act as an intermediary in providing information on the most urgent needs of Ukrainians in their daily fight.
Co-founder of the Centre Hanna Hopko, former head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Ukrainian Parliament, told Polish Radio's IAR information service that the Polish capital was chosen because of its large Ukrainian community, the incoming refugees, as well as the diplomatic posts and international organizations based here.
As she said, firstly it was most important to guarantee ammuniton and fighter planes for the Ukrainian armed forces. She also underlined the necessity to declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine, because - as she said - relief organisations such as the Red Cross were now prevented from carrying humanitarian assistance. "Quite simply they are afraid that they will get killed" she told IAR.
Katarzyna Pisarska from the Pulaski Foundation said that they had been approached for help immediately after the invasion began. She told Polish Radio's Information Agency that it was obvious from the first that the initiative would be expanding, and that the Foundation is now supporting with logistics, volunteers and programming, and identifying areas which need assistance most.
Currently the Centre is looking for volunteers who have a command of English and Ukrainian, and with experience in diplomacy or work in international institutions.
More information on the webpages of the Centre ukrainianvictory.org or the Pulaski Foundation pulaski.pl
Source: IAR, ukrainianvictory.org