Dutch organization VNG donates €100,000 to Ukrainian city of Ochakov to address consequences of Russian shelling

The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) will allocate €100,000 to help the Ukrainian city of Ochakiv.

Ochakiv city mayor Serhii Bychkov announced the VNG initiative, Ukrinform reports.

Ochakiv is a port city on the Black Sea coast in Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv region, which has been under regular Russian shelling since the beginning of the full-scale war in February 2022.

"As long as active hostilities continue, there is no question of reconstruction. These issues will be raised after the end of active hostilities," Bychkov said, adding that when VNG offered Ochakiv a short program for €100,000, the authorities decided to fund the critical needs. "We've chosen to purchase equipment, specifically a bulldozer, because we need heavy machinery."

The mayor said that the VNG and the city would share the cost of the heavy equipment, with €50,000 provided by the city budget. 

"This way, we will purchase heavy machinery to move the rubble, dismantle the [Russia] destroyed houses so that we can prepare sites for the restoration of buildings and the implementation of new projects," Bychkov said.

He also noted that the city has cooperated with the Dutch organization VNG for six months.

"Our team has already completed training in the Netherlands. We found ourselves among four cities under the care of the Netherlands. We were taken under their wing and are very grateful," Bychkov said. "Each city in the Netherlands has its specialty. We visited the city of Dorn, where we had an enjoyable meeting with the city mayor. It is terrific here, one of the best centers for helping military and civilians who have suffered because of the war. We want to adopt this experience and get support to build such a center in our city of Ochakiv."

He also stressed that he dreams of the fastest possible victory for Ukraine, the reconstruction of Ochakiv with the involvement of Dutch technologies, knowledge, and experience.

"We dream of being taught to use the technologies in the Netherlands. This is very important for us because they are many steps ahead," he said. He added that the authorities want to create comfortable living conditions for the city's residents and restore the energy system, including introducing solar panels and wind energy, as did the Netherlands. 

"The city of Ochakiv has 265 sunny days a year and has a good wind rose, so it would be silly not to use it," said the mayor.

According to him, 65% of premises for various purposes in Ochakiv were destroyed by Russian shelling, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and residential buildings. He stated that despite the shelling, reconstruction work is underway, but there are streets where damaged homes must be completely demolished and new buildings built. He added that new housing must be built using new technologies, providing safe shelters, water quality, logistics, and good roads.

During the working visit to the Netherlands, Ochakiv Mayor Serhii Bychkov got acquainted with the living conditions of Ukrainians who ended up in the Netherlands fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine.

He also met with Aart-Jan Moerkerke, the mayor of Moerdijk, where a new comfortable location was opened for Ukrainians who ended up in the Netherlands because of the war.

"We are very grateful that they were accepted, supported, and provided with everything necessary. I also want to note that 80% of Ukrainians here already have a job," he said.