Regensburg sends aid convoy to sister city: Odessa is attacked while the mayor is on the phone

Created: 03/03/2022 10:49 am

By: Tanja Kipke

The old town hall in Regensburg shines in the colors yellow and blue in the evening as a sign of solidarity with the Ukraine.

© City of Regensburg, Stefan Effenhauser

The city of Regensburg wants to help its Ukrainian partner city Odessa with all means possible.

The mayor is planning numerous relief campaigns.

Regensburg - Solidarity with Ukraine because of Russia's attack on the country is also enormous in Regensburg.

The city had already announced that it would support its Ukrainian twin city, Odessa, as best it could.

The aid organization "Space-Eye" has already left for the border with a convoy of relief supplies.

Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer has now convened a staff to coordinate the possible accommodation of people who have fled the Ukraine conflict.

On Wednesday (March 2) she also had the opportunity to call Mayor Gennady Trukhanov from Odessa directly.

Ukraine conflict: Regensburg helps partner city Odessa with all means

“I am deeply impressed by the generosity of so many people and associations.

I'm really very grateful for that," says Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer.

Regensburg is preparing with all means to take in refugees.

According to the government of the Upper Palatinate, there is still capacity in the anchor center in Regensburg.

"But there are already housing offers from the population," says a statement from the city.

The members of the Regensburg Hotel Association have provided a room contingent for free accommodation for up to 300 people from the Ukraine.

“Now we all have to help together quickly and unbureaucratically and convey the numerous offers of help.

We also want to set up aid transports for the Odessa town twinning,” says the mayor.

She phoned the mayor of the sister city on Wednesday.

During the phone call, Russian soldiers apparently attacked Odessa.

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Ukraine conflict: sister city Odessa is attacked during a phone call with the mayor

“The situation is depressing.

Odessa airport was attacked during the phone call," said the mayor.

"I have asked Mr. Trukhanov to continue to send us lists so that we can get the urgently needed relief supplies to the border with Ukraine via Romania or Poland as quickly as possible."

Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer in a video call with Mayor Gennady Trukhanov from Odessa.

© City of Regensburg, Stephan Rockinger

The Odessites could soon face another major attack by the Russian army.

On Twitter, a user shared a video that apparently shows western Crimea.

A large part of the Russian naval group can be seen on the Black Sea.

The destination could be the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

However, the Twitter source has not yet been verified.

Mayor Trukhanov thanked all Regensburg residents for their commitment and solidarity.

Trukhanov emphasized that the support from Regensburg is very important for the Odessites and he knows that Odessa can count on Regensburg in good times as well as in bad.

According to Mayor Trukhanov, the citizens of Odessa and the Ukrainian army will defend their city and will not give up without a fight.

According to the announcement, Malz-Schwarzfischer ended the call with the words: "Our hearts are with you".