On 30 October, Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and the Embassy of Ireland in Lithuania signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding Ireland’s earmarked contribution of €3 million for constructing shelters near Ukrainian schools. Through this contribution to the Lithuanian Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Lithuania becomes the first country with which Ireland has chosen to implement joint development cooperation projects in Ukraine.
„Russia’s military forces target civilians and relentlessly destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure with missile strikes. Bomb blasts, air raid sirens in Ukraine echo more frequently than the school bells. Our focus must be on doing everything possible to shield the country from further devastation and to secure Ukraine's victory. Partnering with our international allies to rebuild what has been destroyed is one of the ways we contribute to Ukraine’s victory and to a brighter future for Ukrainian children, “ said Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
The importance of Lithuanian and Irish support for Ukraine’s reconstruction was also highlighted by the Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, during his speech at the Lithuanian Development Cooperation Conference.
“I am sincerely convinced that the restoration of Ukraine begins with the restoration of education. Life in Ukrainian cities, destroyed by Russia and de-occupied, is being restored thanks to the return to work of educational institutions. And this is not just an assumption - we see it today with our own eyes. People return to their communities exactly when the work of educational institutions resumes." – said minister Oksen Lisovyi.
Installing shelters near educational institutions is essential to ensure that Ukrainian children can physically return to schools and study safely.
Lithuania was one of the first countries to initiate Ukraine's reconstruction projects without waiting for the end of the war. By combining the efforts, experience, and expertise of Lithuanian and Ukrainian institutions, smaller bilateral projects have successfully evolved into larger initiatives funded by the European Commission and other partners. One of the best examples is the bomb shelter program for Ukrainian schools, which has received a support of total of €15.5 million.
Since 2022, thanks to support provided by the Lithuanian Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid numerous key restoration projects in Ukraine were implemented: the nursery “Rūta” in Irpin and the lyceum in Borodianka were rebuilt from the ruins, educational facilities in Snihurivka, Mykolaiv region were upgraded and equipped with essential resources. Among other important initiatives, the Fund also financed the construction of an anti-radiation shelter for the nursery in Irpin. These Lithuanian initiatives were implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA).
