We visited Kalynivka, a small Ukrainian town two hours by train south-west of Kyiv. The local hospital, the pride of its inhabitants, is going to receive two generators financed by the French municipality of Sainte-Menehould. We’ve come to meet the Mayor, who gives us a warm welcome in his office.
On February 24, Kalynivka was 250km from the nearest Russian troops. None the less, this is where the first missiles struck Ukraine, targetting the town’s garrison, killing 2 people and injuring 28 civilians. Despite its distance from the fighting, Kalynivka has felt the full impact of the war, and acknowledges a debt to ‘its’ brigade who left for the front – the Mayor shows us photos of vehicles, food and warm clothing sent by the population to their soldiers. This town of 18,000 people already mourns 56 martyrs and a Hero of Ukraine.
People here lived without electricity for days at a stretch, but this does not prevent our interlocutors from expressing the optimism and pride so characteristic of Ukrainian resiliance. This region known for its fertile black soil is proud of its agriculture and breeding. The Mayor says how grateful Kalynivka is to the people of Sainte-Menehould, and how much their support has meant during this difficult period. Kalynivka has also welcomed a thousand refugees from the east of the country, placing additional pressure on the municipality’s resources.
In this region, whose symbol promises sun and cherries and where the famous Ukrainian plain starts, this new partnership will contribute to the presence of France in Ukraine and awareness of Ukraine in France.
