Based on the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in autumn 2022, concerning the Joint UK-Polish project on shelter, food and complementary assistance for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities in Ukraine, as well as the accompanying announcement by the UK to provide up to £10 million in funding, today we are pleased to officially open shelters for Ukrainians in Lviv in western Ukraine.
Nine years after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and instigation of the conflict in the Donbas, and over a year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has internally displaced nearly six million Ukrainians and caused another eight million to seek refuge across Europe, Poland and the UK, in concert with our allies and partners, offer our continued, unequivocal support for Ukrainian, which is bravely facing the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War.
Just as Polish-British bonds were forged during the Battle of Britain, today we join forces in support of Ukraine. Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom, but that of all free nations. Today the future of European security is being determined on the territory of Ukraine. No matter how long it takes, we will support Ukraine's fight for freedom and democracy.
UK-Polish co-operation in providing temporary homes for displaced Ukrainian people is yet another example of the response of the international community, and aims to provide accommodation, light and hope to the people of Ukraine. The project has supported the development of two accommodation villages, in Lviv, in the west, and in Poltava, in the east, of Ukraine, and will support Ukrainians who have fled the fighting or lost their homes due to Russian shelling. Over 700 displaced Ukrainians stand to benefit. The UK-Polish partnership will also provide £2.5 million worth of generators to support schools, hospitals and community centres across Ukraine, supporting approximately 450,000 people in areas that have been re-captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces or directly affected by the fighting. Additionally, the Ukrainian Red Cross will receive up to £2.6 million for their winter appeal.
This is one of our many humanitarian responses to Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure, mounting evidence of which appears more and more clearly to constitute war crimes and therefore a clear violation of international humanitarian law, as well as being contrary to civilised norms and resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
London/Warsaw, 28 March 2023
