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EU countries have called for urgent action in response to the mass influx of irregular migrants
22 Member States— members of the European Union — have called on the EU leadership to provide an immediate and coordinated response to the situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which has recently faced a sudden mass influx of tens of thousands of irregular migrants. In a joint letter published on 1 August, the leaders emphasised that the European Union must ensure the effective protection of its external borders and prevent the perception that crossing the border illegally could be a route to legal residence within the EU. According to UA Service HUB, the document states that uncontrolled mass border crossings pose serious challenges to security, the work of border services and the EU’s migration policy. That is why the countries are calling for joint European solutions and a swift response to the crisis. The situation in Ceuta has once again raised the issue of strengthening the security of the EU’s external borders, reforming the migration system and coordinating actions between Member States. This issue is expected to be one of the key topics at the forthcoming meetings of European leaders. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. Together with Melilla, it is one of the few land borders between Africa and the European Union. It is for this reason that Ceuta has remained one of the main routes for irregular migration to the EU for many years. This week, the situation in the enclave has escalated sharply: thousands of people have attempted to cross the border with Morocco en masse, prompting a stepped-up response from border authorities and a new wave of debate in Europe regarding the control of the EU’s external borders and migration policy
The first Lady’s Cash transformation game took place in Naples: not even an earthquake could stop the participants
The first Lady’s Cash transformational game, organised by MindSpace Club, took place in Naples. The event focused on financial mindset, the energy of money and personal development. Despite its name, the game is not open to women only. Men are also welcome to take part, as its main aim is to help participants change their attitude towards finances, identify internal limitations related to money, and discover new opportunities for personal and professional growth. During the session, participants analysed their own financial scenarios, worked on their beliefs regarding abundance and discussed practical tools for achieving financial goals. A distinctive feature of the first game was that it continued uninterrupted even during an earthquake that was felt in Naples and many parts of Campania. Despite the unexpected situation, the participants remained calm and, after taking the necessary safety precautions, continued the session. This served as a symbol of resilience, inner confidence and a readiness to move forward despite any challenges. The organisers at MindSpace Club plan to hold these transformational games on a regular basis, creating a space for growth, support and the formation of a community of people striving for positive change in their lives.
Assault on Ukrainians in Poland: two suspects have been arrested, a third is wanted
An investigation is underway in Poland into the high-profile attack on a Ukrainian couple in Wrocław. The police have already arrested two men, aged 27 and 45, who are suspected of brutally beating the Ukrainian nationals. According to Polish media reports, one of the detainees has a previous criminal record and has taken part in bare-knuckle fights, whilst the other is a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Preliminary reports suggest the altercation began in a ‘Żabka’ shop over a queue. Once outside, the argument escalated into an assault, during which a Ukrainian man and a Ukrainian woman were injured. Law enforcement officers are continuing to search for the third person involved in the incident. All those involved could face up to five years’ imprisonment. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has responded to the incident. He stated that the rise in violence is linked to the fact that radical groups feel they have political support. Tusk also called on Polish President Karol Nawrocki to respond publicly to the situation and draw attention to the activities of radical groups. “We must wage a resolute fight against this violence, as thugs, hooligans and the culture of violence are becoming increasingly brazen. This is also linked to the fact that they feel they have political backing,” emphasised the head of the Polish government. The Prime Minister expressed his hope that the law enforcement agencies would promptly apprehend all those responsible, and that the courts would ensure fair punishment. He also stressed that attacks on Ukrainians run counter to Poland’s interests, and called on citizens to report any instances of violence or hate crimes to the police. As a reminder, UA Service HUB previously reported that a Ukrainian couple were brutally beaten in Wrocław following a dispute which, according to eyewitnesses, was accompanied by insults directed at their Ukrainian accent. The investigation is ongoing.
‘Literature is also a weapon’: Ukrainian writer wins prestigious award in Italy
Ukrainian writer Yaryna Hrusha has been awarded one of Italy’s most prestigious literary prizes — the Viareggio-Versilia International Prize, which forms part of the prestigious Viareggio-Répaci Prize. The award ceremony took place in the seaside town of Viareggio on the Tyrrhenian coast. Over the years, this international award has been presented to outstanding figures in the world of culture, including Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass and the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. This year, the jury honoured Yaryna Hrusha ‘for her significant contribution to the dissemination and promotion of Ukrainian culture in Italy and Europe, as well as for her literary work, which combines memory, identity and civic testimony’. Special mention was made of her novel *The Blue Photo Album*, which explores themes of memory, personal stories and the search for identity. During the ceremony, the writer thanked the award’s president, Paolo Mieli, the members of the jury, the Bompiani publishing house and the editor, Giulia Ikino. In her speech, she emphasised the symbolic significance of receiving the award in Viareggio — the town where the world-famous Ukrainian opera singer Solomiya Krushelnytska lived from 1915 to 1939. “Being here today means that, despite all attempts to destroy, erase and silence it, Ukrainian culture has survived thanks to courageous people,” noted Yaryna Hrusha. The writer dedicated her award to Ukrainian authors who died during the war, to those who were forced to take up arms instead of a pen, and to those who continue to fight with words. “Literature is also a weapon,” she concluded, ending her speech with the words: “Glory to Ukraine!” The Viareggio-Rèpaci Prize, established in 1929, is considered one of Italy’s most prestigious literary awards. It is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in prose, poetry, essay writing, journalism, literary debuts and international cultural activities. Yaryna Hrusha was born in Ukraine. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology, specialising in literary studies and translation. For many years, she has been working at the intersection of Ukrainian and Italian cultures, engaging in translation, literary projects and cultural diplomacy.
Мер Вроцлава засудив напад на українців: «У нашому місті немає місця ксенофобії»
Мер Вроцлава Яцек Сутрик виступив із публічною заявою після жорстокого нападу на молоду українську пару. Він наголосив, що у місті немає місця насильству, дискримінації та злочинам на ґрунті ненависті. «Кожна людина, незалежно від того, якою мовою вона розмовляє, звідки походить чи у що вірить, має право почуватися у Вроцлаві в безпеці. Напад через походження — це напад на всю нашу спільноту», — заявив мер. Він висловив підтримку постраждалим, закликав поліцію якнайшвидше встановити та покарати винних, а також звернувся до мешканців із проханням не залишатися байдужими: повідомляти про подібні випадки правоохоронцям і, якщо це безпечно, фіксувати їх на фото чи відео. Окремо мер застеріг політиків і громадських діячів від риторики, яка ділить людей на «своїх» і «чужих», підкресливши, що такі висловлювання можуть провокувати реальне насильство. Нагадаємо, у Вроцлаві було жорстоко побито молоду українську пару. За повідомленнями польських ЗМІ, напад мав ознаки злочину на ґрунті національної ненависті. Інцидент викликав широкий суспільний резонанс і став приводом для публічної реакції міської влади. За даними UA Service HUB, сьогодні Польща залишається країною з найбільшою українською громадою в Європі. За різними офіційними оцінками, у країні перебуває близько 2 мільйонів громадян України, включно з людьми, які прибули після початку повномасштабної війни, а також тими, хто проживав і працював у Польщі раніше. Подібні заяви місцевої влади є важливим сигналом підтримки для української громади та підтверджують, що боротьба з ксенофобією і захист прав людини залишаються одним із пріоритетів демократичних європейських суспільств.
Mikhail Fedorov has been offered the post of adviser to the Italian Minister of Defence
Italy’s Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, has offered Ukraine’s former Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, a position as an adviser in Rome. Crosetto revealed this in an interview with the Italian newspaper *la Repubblica*, according to Reuters. According to the Italian minister, he rang Fedorov the day after his dismissal and said: “When would you like to come to Rome and work with me as an adviser?” Crozetto praised Fedorov’s role in modernising Ukraine’s defence sector, particularly the development of military technology and the use of drones. He described him as one of the people who had “completely changed the rules of the game on the battlefield”. Fedorov, aged 35, previously headed the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. His dismissal caused a significant public outcry in Ukraine. According to media reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also offered him other roles within his team, but Fedorov stated that he was not prepared to accept any position other than that of Defence Minister. The Italian offer has become a symbol of support and recognition of his expertise in the field of defence innovation.
An experienced civil servant has been appointed head of the Consulate-General of Ukraine in Naples
Larysa Polishchuk, the newly appointed Consul-General of Ukraine, has taken up her post at the Consulate-General of Ukraine in Naples. Ms Larysa Polishchuk has over 25 years’ experience in the civil service. Throughout her career, she has worked at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dealing with issues of foreign policy, international economic cooperation and European integration. The new Consul General’s key priorities include protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens, ensuring high-quality consular services, supporting the Ukrainian community in Southern Italy and developing the Ukrainian-Italian partnership. Particular attention is to be paid to protecting the rights of Ukrainian children who are in Italy as a result of the full-scale war. This involves preserving their legal ties with Ukraine, supporting their national identity and cooperating with the Italian authorities to safeguard the best interests of every child in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and international law. The Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples has announced that it will continue to cooperate actively with the Italian authorities, the Ukrainian community, civil society organisations, and educational and cultural institutions to support Ukrainians and strengthen friendly relations between Ukraine and Italy. We wish Ms Larisa Polishchuk every success, inspiration and fruitful work for the benefit of the Ukrainian community and the development of Ukrainian-Italian cooperation.
Recruitment for the Create Ukraine programme: Ukrainians abroad are being encouraged to work for the Government
If you have studied abroad or have international professional experience, you have the opportunity to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction, and this could be an important step in your career. The Create Ukraine programme has opened applications for its third cohort of participants. It offers Ukrainian professionals living abroad the opportunity to return to Ukraine and work for a year within government bodies, implementing projects of national importance. Programme participants will receive: 🔹 a paid one-year contract to work for the Government of Ukraine; 🔹 the opportunity to work directly with ministers and their deputies; 🔹 the chance to contribute to strategically important government projects; 🔹 a certification course in Government Relations at the Kyiv School of Economics. Who can apply? ✔️ Ukrainian citizens aged 22 or over; ✔️ Ukrainians who have been living abroad for at least two years and are ready to return; ✔️ candidates with an international education or professional experience; ✔️ motivated professionals who wish to influence the country’s development. .📅 Applications can be submitted up to and including 14 August. Applications should be sent to: foundation.kse.ua According to UA Service HUB, the programme is funded by the Lithuanian Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. It is implemented by the Lithuanian Centre for International Partnership in collaboration with the KSE Foundation, with the support of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in close cooperation with the Government of Ukraine. For many Ukrainians living abroad, this is an opportunity to use the knowledge and experience they have gained to contribute to the country’s development, as well as to build a career in public administration.
Estonian advert ‘set the Russians alight’: meat producer finds itself at the centre of a scandal
One of Estonia’s largest meat producers, Rannarootsi Lihatööstus, published an advert on its Facebook page which some interpreted as a reference to Russians being ‘grilled’. According to the publication “European Truth”, this was reported by ERR. The image shows two men with Ukrainian flags on their T-shirt sleeves grilling meat against a backdrop of rising plumes of smoke, which closely resemble the aftermath of military strikes. The product advert is accompanied by a slogan in Estonian: “Õige grill muudab kibeda sibula magusaks” (“The right barbecue makes bitter onions sweet”). Some social media users saw the post as an allusion to Russia’s war against Ukraine and as hate speech. The word ‘sibul’ (‘onion’) sparked the most controversy, as in certain colloquial contexts it can be used as a derogatory nickname for Russian-speaking residents of Estonia. Karmo Axel, Executive Director and board member of Rannarootsi Lihatööstus, stated that the company had not intended any political subtext in the advert. “This is directly related to our product and its ingredient – caramelised onions. The text refers specifically to this product,” said Axel. When asked whether the company was aware of the alternative meaning of the word ‘sibul’, the director said he only found out about it after the advert had been published. The visual elements of the advert also raised some questions, in particular the plumes of smoke in the background and the Ukrainian flags. According to Axel, this imagery was inspired by the current news agenda. It should be noted that in May, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it intended to file a complaint against the Baltic states with the International Court of Justice over the alleged oppression of ethnic Russians. In response, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that these statements were intended to divert attention from Russia’s own actions, in particular its attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine.