Poland has opened a refugee town in Bucha, Ukraine. The Polish government is planning to build temporary centres for 20,000 people affected by the Russian aggression, including 4,000 in the Kyiv region.

“Further centres will be built in Hostoml and Irpin, where Russian troops destroyed many residential buildings, ruining the life achievements of many people”, said the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Michał Dworczyk during the opening of a modular town in Bucha near Kyiv, where Russian soldiers committed mass crimes against civilians.

The modular town on the grounds of school No. 3 in Bucha is intended for 22 families. Eight of them have already settled in the centre, others are expected to move in over the next few days. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Local Communities and Territorial Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov and the mayor of Bucha Anatoly Fedoruk. Previously, similar towns of container houses built with the support of the Polish government were established in Borodzianka and Lviv.

“I would like to thank the Polish government and society; the level of your support for Ukraine is unprecedented”, said Oleksiy Chernyshov said at the opening of the centre in Bucha.

The head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister also spoke about the decision of the European Council on the status of Ukraine and Moldova as EU candidates.

“I congratulate Ukraine on obtaining the status of a candidate for the European Union. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has been personally striving for this for three months. This is a historic moment, as not long-ago few people would have believed it. We thank you because you defend the independence of Poland and Europe”, said Dworczyk.

Joy from the decision of the European Council was also expressed by President Andrzej Duda. “This is great news! Congratulations! We have actively supported the applications of Ukraine and Moldova and now we rejoice together with them”, the President wrote on Twitter.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński