Polish local governments organize collections and convoys with humanitarian aid, prepare and coordinate shelter for Ukrainian families fleeing the war. Polish cities terminate partnership agreements with Russian sister towns, shops remove Russian products and universities break contacts with state universities in Russia and Belarus.
During the last session, the Gdańsk City Council councillors unanimously passed a resolution on breaking institutional cooperation with Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg and formal relations with the authorities of other cities in the Russian Federation.
Councillors from Lodz announced that contracts with two partner cities Iwanow and Kaliningrad in Russia as well as Belarusian Minsk were terminated. Lublin broke the partnership agreement with the Belarusian Brest, and local councillors adopted a package of resolutions providing refugees from Ukraine with free public transport and parking in the city center as well as exemption from fees for accommodation and meals in dormitories.
Shops and retail chains withdraw Russian products and offer food and other basic necessities to Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Żabka Group issued a special statement on its activities related to the situation in Ukraine.
“The Group stands fully in solidarity with the Ukrainian nation. Many Ukrainian citizens are our employees, franchisees or their associates, so we immediately declared our readiness to provide the necessary assistance. We are taking steps to provide support to people who have been personally affected by these events”.
Polish universities also support Ukraine and Ukrainian students. They break off contacts with state universities in Russia and Belarus, and with local research institutes. The appeal to stop cooperation with any government organization of the Russian Federation or any other country that supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine was published at all the most important institutions of Polish scientists and students.
Polish sport also reacts to the aggression of Putin’s Russia towards Ukraine. Sports clubs fire Russian players, Polish athletes break up, or try to end contracts with Russian clubs and organizations. The hockey club BS Polonia Bytom fired five Russian hockey players.
Mariusz Wołosz, the mayor of Bytom explains that they were offered to stay if they condemned Russia’s hostilities in Ukraine. Everyone refused.
Poland provided shelter and care to 200 disabled children from Kyiv who came via Hungary and Slovakia to Głuchołazy in the Opole region. They were accommodated in the “Skowronek” diocesan holiday and retreat center, which is friendly to the disabled. The transport was organized by Caritas from Opole.
The Polish media also joined in. They launched Ukrainian-language versions of their websites and printed Ukrainian supplements to traditional newspapers. In addition to real help, Poles also show their support symbolically. At noon, the anthem of Ukraine was played by a firefighter of the State Fire Service instead of the traditional trumpet call from the St. Mary’s Tower in Krakow. In Warsaw, the anthem was played by a trumpeter of the City Guard from the Clock Tower of the Royal Castle. The action was also taken by Rzeszów and Białystok.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński