Taiwan and the Czech Republic are cooperating to assist the most heavily impacted areas on the front lines in Ukraine. Three mayors from Ukraine granted an exclusive interview to Central News Agency, praising Taiwan’s aid for providing crucial support at both psychological and economic levels in the local communities. Given that both Taiwan and Ukraine face threats from powerful neighbors, they welcome Taiwanese media and relevant agencies to visit and learn about social resilience and defense experiences.
For the past few months, Russian forces have targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region as a critical strategic objective, launching fierce attacks. Taiwan and the Czech Republic signed a cooperation memorandum on June 27 to assist Ukraine, including plans to establish mobile water treatment facilities benefiting 380,000 residents of Dnipropetrovsk. The three mayors of the region recently attended the “Ukraine Reconstruction Conference” in Rome and described the current situation on the ground and the cooperation with Taiwan in an interview with Central News Agency.
One of the frontline towns, Mezhova, is among the towns frequently bombed by Russia. Mayor Zrazhevsky expressed that the town’s population has decreased since the war began, with around 15,000 residents remaining. Facing constant attacks from artillery and drones every day, many families have been forced to evacuate.
Zrazhevsky thanked Taiwan and the Czech Republic for assisting in maintaining local infrastructure. He mentioned that Taiwan’s assistance primarily conveys psychological support, demonstrating that many countries around the world are willing to stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Economically, he stated that the region has experienced varying needs since the outbreak of war. Currently, the most pressing necessity is to attract quality investors to aid in the reconstruction efforts. For Mezhova, the top priorities are rebuilding basic infrastructure, particularly related to water resources and waste management.
Marhanets, located just 5 kilometers from the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant under Russian occupation, is a town targeted by Russian forces. Mayor Borovyk revealed that the town’s population has decreased from around 50,000 to 20,000 due to daily drone and artillery bombings.
Describing the local production of crucial strategic resource manganese ore, Borovyk highlighted that mining is the most concerning industry, even amid daily bombardments by Russian forces. Despite the challenging conditions, the municipal government strives to provide various services continuously to the residents. Improving the water supply system is currently the most urgent need for the town, including the construction of new pipelines.
Upon hearing that the reporter hails from Taiwan, Borovyk expressed joy and mentioned previous cooperation with Taiwanese individuals. He recalled receiving Taiwanese artists from the United States who donated two garbage trucks to the town last year. Considering further cultural collaboration in the construction of a cultural center by providing land, he emphasized that cooperation experiences with Taiwan are always pleasant.
Borovyk revealed plans where Taiwanese artists intend to craft two audible bells from bomb fragments hit during bombardments, with one bell placed in Marhanets and another transported to the United States for display.
Mayor Svitlyk of Verkhivtseve, with a population of around 13,000, shared the profound impact of the war on the town, given its reception of a large number of displaced residents from the eastern conflict zone. The town aims to provide accommodation and necessary services to those fleeing the conflict, as many Ukrainians prefer to remain close to their homes.
Svitlyk admitted that Ukrainians did not anticipate the prolonged duration of the war, vastly different from the experiences of World War II, dealing with drone attacks and various weapons. Despite the difficulties, he underscored the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people, expressing gratitude for international aid in maintaining local infrastructure. The town is currently constructing an underground school to ensure the safety of students amidst the conflict.
Svitlyk mentioned that the cooperation between Taiwan and the Czech Republic has greatly benefited the region. In this time of crisis, any psychological and economic assistance is crucial for them.
He stated that Ukraine is a democratic country where every citizen, from the president to ordinary people, expects fair justice in the end. He thanked every nation aiding Ukraine and expressed Ukraine’s aspiration to showcase itself as part of the democratic alliance, striving for development and progress.
Svitlyk acknowledged that countries like Taiwan and Poland are learning from the lessons of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Knowing that they cannot choose their neighbors and must stand firm against aggression, he sincerely invited Taiwanese media and relevant organizations to visit and witness firsthand how new underground schools, military defenses, and evacuation measures are being implemented in the region.
Regarding Taiwan’s plans to enhance national defense resilience, Svitlyk encouraged the reporter to visit their community with cameras to observe the ongoing situation and how they are responding to it.
(Text source: Central News Agency)