City friendship: Wolfratshauser look with concern to Brody in the Ukraine

Created: 01/22/2022, 17:00

No signs of relaxation: A Ukrainian soldier is standing in the trenches on the dividing line from the pro-Russian rebels.

© Andriy Dubchak/dpa

The cities of Wolfratshausen and Brody/Ukraine have been friends for 13 years.

Upper Bavaria is currently looking to the east with concern.

Wolfratshausen/Brody – Wolfratshausen and Brody have been town friends for 13 years. About 1300 kilometers separate the two municipalities. The threat of a Russian invasion not only worried the approximately 24,000 residents of Brody, but also the volunteer supporters of the Eastern European Aid and the employees of the Wolfratshausen town hall. Our newspaper asked, among others, the interpreter Halyna Basok, who lives in Brody.

"The whole of Ukraine is afraid of the Russian attack," reports Basok.

Although Brody is in the western part of the country and would therefore not be directly affected by an impending invasion in the east, the interpreter fears lasting effects and reminds of the young soldiers who died in the war that broke out in 2014.

"These are sons, brothers, fathers - even those who had not yet started their own families." In ten years, many Ukrainians would ask themselves how many children were not born because of the war and how many were orphans have to live on.

"All this is very tragic and accompanies every citizen who longs for peace," Basok laments.

Despite great concern: Eastern Europe aid wants to remain apolitical

The Eastern European Aid of the districts of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Starnberg and Munich has been procuring relief supplies such as hygiene articles and bandages for hospitals and old people's homes in the Ukraine and bringing them there for years.

At a meeting next week, the board wants to discuss further relief efforts.

"It is a special situation that requires our attention," said Eastern Europe Aid board member Eberhard Hahn.

We are following the news with concern and hope for successful, peace-bringing results of the talks between the Russian, European, American and Ukrainian negotiating partners.

Alexandra von Alvensleben

Due to the constantly changing situation, he does not see himself in a position to assess the situation.

In addition, according to its chairwoman Maria Reitinger, the Eastern European Aid wants to remain non-political.

During her last visit to Ukraine in September 2021, she noticed the dejection of many people.

"We keep getting calls for help," reveals Reitinger.

Inflation and the unemployment rate have risen dramatically.

Alexandra von Alvensleben, who is responsible for the central administration as well as city twinning and city friendships in the Wolfratshausen town hall, observes this development with concern.

"We are following the news with concern and hope for successful, peace-bringing results of the talks between the Russian, European, American and Ukrainian negotiating partners." (ph)

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