Out of solidarity

Bregenz delegation traveled to Ukraine

Mayor Michael Ritsch (center) and other representatives of the city of Bregenz visited Yaremche.(Bild: Oblastverwaltung Iwano-Frankiwsk)

In July, the members of Bregenz City Council decided to initiate a solidarity partnership with the city of Yaremche in western Ukraine. The cornerstones for cooperation and local support have now been laid down. 

A delegation from the provincial capital of Bregenz, led by Mayor Michael Ritsch, traveled to the Ukrainian twin town of Yaremche last weekend. The three-day trip served to take the first practical steps in the recently agreed solidarity partnership.

Unbureaucratic help in the health sector
During the visit, the delegation met the governor of the Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, Svitlana Onyshchuk, as well as the mayor of Yaremche, Andrii Myroniak. The exchange of ideas focused on the challenges facing the region and possible forms of support. The people of Bregenz want to help as quickly and unbureaucratically as possible in the health sector and in hospitals, where the need is particularly great.

A moving part of the trip was the visit to a memorial to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers in the defensive battle against the Russian invasion, which has been ongoing since 2022. The guests also visited two hospitals that specialize in the rehabilitation of injured and disabled soldiers.