Taiwan-Czech partnership aids Ukraine

台捷合夥援助烏克蘭

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwan-Czech partnership is providing aid to the hardest-hit areas of Ukraine's front-line battle with Russia.

The collaboration includes the construction of mobile water treatment facilities that will serve 380,000 residents of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. On June 27, a memorandum of understanding was signed by representatives of Taiwan and Czechia to provide such assistance, per CNA.

Mezhova Mayor Mykhailo Zrazhevsky, located in this region, said his city's population of 15,000 had shrunk dramatically since the war broke out. "Since 2014, my city has been on the front line of Russian aggression, attacked by various shells and drones every day, as many families have been forced to evacuate."

Zrazhevsky thanked Taiwan for cooperating with Czechia to maintain local infrastructure. "Taiwan's helping hand is a gesture of psychological support, demonstrating that many countries in the world are willing to stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression."

He said high-quality investment is needed to assist with reconstruction. His city's primary needs are water resource infrastructure and garbage disposal.

Marhanets Mayor Hennadiy Borovyk said his southeastern city is only five kilometers away from the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. "There were about 50,000 residents before, but because of bombardment by drones and artillery shells every day, about 20,000 residents have been evacuated so far."

Borovyk said his city is strategically important and contains rare natural resources such as manganese ore, with mining a key industry. Even though bombing continues, the city government hopes to provide various municipal services to the public without interruption.

"It's very difficult to maintain daily life under war, but the Ukrainian people are very tenacious and strong." He expressed special thanks to the international community for infrastructure assistance, with the most urgent need being improvements to the drinking water supply and new water pipes.

Borovyk noted that Taiwanese artists from the US donated two garbage trucks to his city last year. "After the Taiwanese artists visited, they liked our city and began international cultural cooperation, as we will provide them with land to build a cultural center."

Borovyk said Taiwanese artists plan to use fragments of bombing shells to build two large bells that can ring. One will be placed in Marhanets, and the other will be shipped to the United States for display.

Verkhivtseve Mayor Mykhailo Svitlyk represents a city of 13,000 people and has accepted a large number of refugees from the eastern war zone. "We are trying to provide them with accommodation and the services they need because many Ukrainians do not want to evacuate further; they want to stay close to home."

Svitlyk admitted that Ukrainians did not expect the war to be so protracted and time-consuming. The ongoing war means many are facing attacks from drones and various weapons daily. "Although it is very hard, we are Ukrainians. This is our land, and we must work hard to protect it."

Svitlyk said maintaining normal life during war is difficult, especially for children, who are under great psychological pressure because they are always surrounded by the sound of air defense sirens and fighter jets. Due to safety concerns, the city is even building an underground school.

"The cooperation between Taiwan and Czechia has been a great help to the region. In this critical moment, any psychological and economic assistance is crucial to us," said Svitlyk.

Svitlyk said that Ukraine is a democratic country, and everyone from the president to the common people expects freedom and justice. He thanked every country that assisted Ukraine, as it pledged to be part of a democratic alliance that will move forward.

We cannot choose our neighbors. When our neighbors want to take advantage of you, you must remain strong," said Svitlyk. He invited Taiwanese media and related institutions to visit his community and learn about resilience, such as military defenses, evacuations, and underground schools.