Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Ukraine visit Kherson region

On Tuesday, June 10, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga visited Kherson region .

According to Kęstutis Budrys , wherever they went, they saw only inhuman cruelty and crimes of Russian aggression.

"Destruction, destroyed cities, schools, hospitals and broken lives. And this is happening in the 21st century," the Lithuanian official shared his impressions of the trip.

He expressed his admiration for Ukrainians and Kherson residents in particular, who hope and try to live as normally as possible in the most terrible conditions of war.

"All those responsible for crimes against humanity must be held accountable and brought to justice. Impunity leads to nothing but more aggression and cruelty ," he added.

The memorial in the Lilac Park. Photo: Andriy Sybiga

According to the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, during their visit to Kherson, the ministers visited critical infrastructure facilities, an underground school, a maternity hospital, and paid tribute to the fallen defenders of the city. They met with local residents and authorities to discuss the urgent needs of the region and the possibility of expanding international assistance.

"The ministers visited one of the city's 'underground' hospitals. Here, even when Russian shells are exploding nearby, Kherson residents continue to be born. Since the beginning of the year alone, 61 children have been born "underground," said the head of the OVA.

Andriy Sybiga and Kęstutis Budrys in the underground hospital. Photo: Andriy Sybiga

In total, there are nine underground medical facilities in Kherson Oblast, three of which are funded by the budget, and six others are funded by philanthropists and the local budget. These are multidisciplinary facilities that provide all types of medical care, from diagnostics to rehabilitation.

Prokudin also added that Lithuania provides comprehensive support to the Kherson region, including protective equipment for doctors and patients. And in winter, the country installed 500 solar panels in Kherson region, which significantly increased the energy resilience of important facilities in the region. In addition, at the meeting with the Lithuanian Police Commissioner General Arunas Paulauskas, it was agreed to transfer cars for Kherson law enforcement officers, as well as to organize training events and exchange of experience with Lithuanian specialists.

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