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A commemorative plaque in Ukrainian honouring the 17th-century Cossacks has been unveiled in Palermo
A commemorative plaque in Ukrainian has been unveiled in Palermo in honour of the Ukrainian Cossacks who, almost 400 years ago, contributed to the construction of the Sanctuary of Saint Rosalia on Mount Pellegrino. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Andriy Yurash, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta; the Archbishop-Metropolitan of Palermo, Primate of Sicily Corrado Lorefice, representatives of the Ukrainian community, local and regional authorities, the clergy and pilgrims. 📜 The history of this shrine has been linked to Ukrainians since 1627. In December 1627, Ukrainian Cossacks led by Mark Yakymovskyi arrived in Palermo. The day before, they had mutinied on a Turkish galley near the island of Lesbos, freed themselves from captivity and rescued around 220 Christian captives, most of whom were Ukrainians. On 7 December, the Cossacks visited the Shrine of Saint Rosalia on Monte Pellegrino. As a token of gratitude for their liberation from many years of captivity, they donated part of the spoils they had captured towards the construction of the church, which was only just beginning at the time. Today, commemorative plaques at the Sanctuary in Latin and Italian serve as a reminder of this story. A new plaque in Ukrainian reproduces the content of the historical inscriptions and also clarifies the date of the event and the name of the Cossack leader in accordance with modern historical research. The unveiling was attended by Andriy Yurash, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta, Archbishop-Metropolitan Corrado Lorefice of Palermo, representatives of the Ukrainian community, local and regional authorities, the clergy and pilgrims. This story serves as a reminder of Ukraine’s centuries-old ties with Sicily and the broader European dimension of Ukrainian history. And the story of the Cossacks, who fought for liberation from bondage almost 400 years ago, takes on special symbolic significance today for Ukraine, which continues its struggle for freedom. 📅 On 7 December 2027, to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Ukrainian Cossacks in Palermo, a special Ukrainian pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Saint Rosalia is planned.
Politicians in France have clashed over military aid to Ukraine
The presidential campaign has effectively kicked off in France, and the war in Ukraine is already becoming one of the key issues in the upcoming election. Two potential frontrunners — Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right ‘National Rally’, and centre-right politician Édouard Philippe — have exchanged sharp remarks regarding continued support for Ukraine. The dispute was sparked by a statement from Louis Aliot, vice-president of the ‘National Rally’. He stated that, should the party come to power, France should cease military aid to Kyiv. The politician explained his position by citing the difficult economic situation in France and a lack of funds for healthcare, education and other domestic needs. Édouard Philippe sharply criticised this stance. In his view, ceasing aid to Ukraine would effectively play into Russia’s hands and pose an additional threat to the security of Europe and France. “Turning off the tap” for Ukraine would be doing Russia a favour. “Weakening Ukraine is a threat to the security of Europe and France,” said Philippe. Marine Le Pen responded by stating that she was not in favour of prolonging the war, but rather of a diplomatic settlement. She recalled that, right from the start of the full-scale invasion, she had called for an international peace conference. Philippe, for his part, accused Le Pen of being too soft on Russia and stated that, should she come to power, Ukraine could be left without France’s support. 🗳️ The French presidential election will take place in spring 2027. According to current polls, Marine Le Pen has around 35 per cent support and is ahead of Édouard Philippe, who is backed by around 15 per cent of voters. For Ukraine, the outcome of the French elections could be of significant importance, as France remains one of the key EU states in terms of military and political support for Ukraine. Based on material from UNIAN.UA
CRASA APS marks its second anniversary: the association is developing projects for Ukrainians in Italy
The C.R.A.S.A. APS Association (Comunità di rifugiati: attività, sviluppo, arte) is celebrating its second anniversary. During this time, the organisation has carried out a number of social, charitable, cultural and awareness-raising projects for the Ukrainian community in Naples. Among the key initiatives of the past year is the charity calendar ‘Ukrainian Women in Italy’. The association has also organised two charity lunches, during which funds were raised to support Ukraine and passed on to partners and charitable organisations. One of CRASA APS’s most ambitious projects has been the UA Service Hub – an online platform based on the work.crasa.team website for finding Ukrainian professionals and services abroad. The project was developed in-house, and the team is currently continuing to work on its development and on expanding opportunities for Ukrainian professionals. This year, CRASA APS also joined the NAU network — Network Associazioni per Ucraina — which brings together organisations working to support Ukraine and Ukrainians. Psychological support remains a key focus of the association’s work. As part of the MindSpace Forum, participants discussed adaptation, finding one’s place and building a new life in another country. CRASA APS actively participates in cultural and patriotic events aimed at promoting Ukraine in Italy. The association organised a photography exhibition featuring Ukrainian photographers and, on 23 August, held a rally in Naples to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Partners, volunteers and representatives of the Ukrainian community are involved in the association’s activities. Among CRASA APS’s media partners is BusinessWoman magazine. “We would like to thank everyone who has stood by us over the past two years. We would like to thank our partners, friends, participants in our events, volunteers and everyone who supports our projects,” the association states, emphasising that it plans to continue developing new projects, partnerships and opportunities for Ukrainians in Italy. Support CRASA APS’s work Anyone wishing to support the association’s work, including its social, charitable and cultural projects, can make a donation. C.R.A.S.A. APS Refugee Community: activities, development, art 📧 apscrasa@gmail.com Beneficiary: CRASA APS Bank: Banca Popolare Etica S.c.p. Branch code: 00009 NAPLES BRANCH IBAN: IT16S0501803400000020000760 Every contribution helps CRASA APS to continue its work for the Ukrainian community and to carry out new projects in Italy.
Hungary intends to continue providing protection to Ukrainian men of conscription age
The Hungarian Government reserves the right to grant protection to Ukrainian men of conscription age who enter the country. This is reported by ‘European Truth’, citing a statement by the Hungarian Prime Minister, Péter Magyar. According to him, a few weeks ago the European Union adopted a decision under which Ukrainian men of conscription age who have problems with their military registration documents will not be able to receive temporary protection in EU countries. Hungary, the Prime Minister said, voted against this decision. “At the same time, the government has decided that Hungary will act differently and continues to reserve the right to grant refugee status to men of conscription age who flee to Hungarian territory,” Magyar stated. He clarified that this primarily concerns ethnic Hungarians from Transcarpathia. The Hungarian Prime Minister also criticised the EU’s decision, stating that he considers it “unworthy and incomprehensible”, as, in his view, it effectively restricts the ability of fathers and grandfathers to leave a country that is at war. 📌 As a reminder, at the end of July, the EU extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until 4 March 2028. At the same time, additional conditions apply to newly arrived Ukrainian citizens subject to military service, particularly regarding military registration documents. Ukrainians planning to move to Hungary should check the final conditions for obtaining protection immediately before their journey, as the rules are subject to change.
Taller than the Empire State Building: the world’s longest suspension bridge is to be built in Italy
🇮🇹 Plans have been approved in Italy for the construction of the world’s longest suspension bridge. The bridge across the Strait of Messina, which will link Sicily with mainland Italy, is set to become the world’s longest suspension bridge. The cost of this large-scale project is estimated at approximately €13.5 billion, and construction is expected to be completed in 2032–2033. The bridge will be 3,666 metres long. It will have six lanes for road traffic and two railway tracks. It is expected that the bridge will be able to handle up to 200 trains a day and around 6,000 cars an hour. The design features two support towers, each 399 metres high — taller than the Empire State Building in New York. Particular attention was paid to safety during the design phase. The Strait of Messina is situated in a seismically active region, near the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. According to the project specifications, the bridge is designed to withstand an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 and wind gusts of up to 216 km/h. There will be a toll to cross the bridge. The estimated cost for a passenger car will be €4–7 per journey. The construction of the bridge is set to significantly transform transport links between Sicily and mainland Italy and become one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
The EU may tighten visa restrictions on Russian tourists due to the threat of terrorist attacks
The European Union is discussing a travel ban on former Russian combatants and tighter visa restrictions for Russian tourists. During an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, on 2 September, the initiative received broad support. This was stated by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. “There was broad support for introducing an entry ban into the EU for former Russian combatants and tightening visa restrictions for Russian tourists,” said Kallas. The debate intensified following reports that one of the Russians suspected of attempting to blow up a Ukrainian passenger aircraft at Leipzig Airport may have entered the EU on a tourist visa issued by Italy. Kallas emphasised that the case illustrates how tourist visas can be used by people planning acts of sabotage to infiltrate the EU. “It is unacceptable that a country is bombing Ukraine, killing more civilians in July and August than at any other time during this war, — and at the same time, Russians are entering and enjoying the hospitality of European countries,” Kallas noted. She added that the security of the European Union is also under threat. “In fact, such tourist visas are being used for acts of sabotage, as these people need to get into the European Union,” stated the EU’s top diplomat. For his part, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the authorities would investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of a visa to one of the suspects in the Leipzig attack case. “An investigation will be carried out,” said Tajani. He called on European countries to remain vigilant, as states seeking to harm the EU may utilise individuals with no criminal records or prior suspicions against them. Consequently, the EU is considering tightening its visa policy towards Russian citizens not only as a sanction but also as a security measure and a means of preventing acts of sabotage.
Mykhailo Fedorov will remain in Ukraine, despite his role as an adviser to the Italian Minister of Defence
The press office of Ukraine’s former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has explained his appointment as an adviser to the Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crozetto, on defence innovation. They emphasised that Fedorov’s previous position does not impose any restrictions on his work as an adviser to the government of another state. His role does not involve the disclosure of state secrets, the transfer of classified information or technical documentation with restricted access. The press office noted that the engagement of former senior officials as experts and advisers to foreign governments is common international practice. According to the press service, Fedorov will focus primarily on sharing managerial and expert experience in the field of technological warfare and defence innovation. “Such cooperation is also important for Ukraine, as it deepens collaboration with NATO countries and their defence industries, and creates new opportunities for Ukrainian defence-tech companies, joint development projects and investment ventures,” the press office stated. They also emphasised that Fedorov will continue to live and work in Ukraine. His main focus will remain on assisting Ukraine in the war against Russia. According to the press office, Fedorov plans to pursue other international projects in parallel, including the development of a think tank and an innovation fund that will invest in Ukrainian technologies and weaponry. As a reminder, on 28 August, Fedorov announced that he had accepted Guido Crozetto’s offer to become his adviser.
130 Italian activists visited Odessa as part of a peacekeeping mission
From 25 to 28 August 2026, MEAN — Movimento Europeo di Azione Nonviolenta (European Movement for Non-Violent Action) carried out the ‘Adesso, Odesa’ mission in Ukraine. A total of 130 Italian activists travelled to Odesa to meet with Ukrainian young people, civil society organisations, religious communities, representatives of local authorities and civil society. The aim of the mission was not only to express solidarity with Ukraine, but also, through their physical presence, dialogue and human connections, to support Ukrainians and strengthen cooperation between civil society in Ukraine and Europe. The participants met with students, volunteers, representatives of institutions and residents of Odesa, discussing the future of Ukraine and Europe and talking about the role of non-violent action in building peace. The mission participants described their experience in Odessa as follows: ‘Last night, Odessa came under shelling that lasted several hours. We shared with the city the sound of the air-raid siren, the anticipation, the fear and the uncertainty. That is precisely why we are in Odesa: so as not to leave the civilian population on their own and to support those who have been living through the war and in spite of it for over four years. Even after this morning’s air strike, Odesa carries on. The streets are filling up, people are getting back to their daily lives, and the city is holding firm with great resilience.” The conclusion of the mission was particularly symbolic. Italian and Ukrainian participants gathered outside the Odessa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet and sang the Italian song ‘Bella ciao’ together — a song that has become a symbol of resistance and solidarity in both Italy and Ukraine. Afterwards, the participants made their way to the Potemkin Stairs, singing and holding placards reading ‘Putin go home’. This spontaneous gesture served as a kind of farewell to Odesa and, at the same time, a demonstration of support for the Ukrainian people. This is precisely how the organisers of MEAN see the meaning of non-violent action and international solidarity.
Mykhailo Fedorov has been appointed adviser to the Italian Minister of Defence
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former Minister of Defence, has been appointed as an adviser to Italy’s Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, on defence innovation. Fedorov will advise the Italian Ministry of Defence on the development of modern military technologies and the strengthening of the defence tech sector. Key areas of cooperation include drones and unmanned systems, autonomous technologies, air defence, digital solutions and the development of the defence technology ecosystem. Ukraine’s experience is particularly valuable for Italy, as the war in Ukraine has become a major test for modern technologies on the battlefield. Ukraine is actively developing unmanned systems, robotic solutions and innovative approaches to defence. At the same time, Mykhailo Fedorov will continue to work in Ukraine on projects aimed at strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and attracting international resources. 🇺🇦🇮🇹 This is yet another example of how Ukrainian technological and managerial expertise is becoming an important part of European security cooperation. Ukrainian expertise — for strengthening European security.