The First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko did a working visit to Volyn region.
As part of his trip, Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the First National Forum of Volunteer Councils, where he held a special panel discussion with the Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine on digital development, digital transformation and digitalisation.
The First Deputy Speaker emphasised the important role of volunteers in supporting the country and society during the war, which gives Ukraine the strength to resist the full-scale russian invasion. He stressed the importance of cooperation between the state, volunteer organisations and citizens, thanks to which, even in difficult conditions, sometimes with limited infrastructure and resources, it is possible to provide assistance to those who need it.
«It is absolutely clear to me that it is only thanks to the synergy between the state and the volunteer movement that we have been able to survive the harshest winters, blackouts and infrastructure terror,» emphasised Oleksandr Korniienko, thanking everyone who, through their tireless work, has helped the country to withstand the onslaught throughout the years of the russian-Ukrainian war.
He reported on discussions in the Verkhovna Rada aimed at strengthening support for the volunteer movement, in particular through the introduction of mechanisms for its partial financing.
During his working visit to Volyn, the First Deputy Speaker also visited one of the region's military lyceums, which was damaged as a result of a russian attack.
He honoured the memory of those whose lives were taken by russian aggression. «It is our duty to achieve justice and ensure that every criminal is held accountable for our citizens who have suffered and are no longer with us,» Oleksandr Korniienko emphasised.
According to him, despite all the destruction, the educational process has been restored, and lyceum students continue to gain knowledge in the rebuilt buildings.
The First Deputy Speaker thanked the students and staff of the educational institution for choosing a difficult path and emphasised the importance of high-quality military training in view of the challenges posed by the aggressor state. He noted the contribution of each individual to the formation of Ukraine's high level of readiness and resilience in confronting external threats.
In addition, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine held a meeting with representatives of local self-government bodies in the Volyn region. During the meeting, key areas for further work were discussed, in particular support for the front and assistance to the army, ensuring the effective functioning of local councils and decision-making in communities, as well as the prospects for the regions in the context of European integration.
Oleksandr Korniienko stressed the importance of active community participation in European projects, local infrastructure development, energy conservation, and job creation. He emphasised that it is the activity of communities and local deputies that strengthens decentralisation and contributes to the development of the local economy.
Volyn, as a border region, according to him, has significant prospects for cooperation with EU countries, participation in international projects and attracting partners for the development of the region.
The First Deputy Speaker thanked the communities that help people, support entrepreneurs and ensure stability in the difficult conditions of war.
«I sincerely thank every village head, mayor, and local deputy for standing shoulder to shoulder with the people. Your daily work is the foundation of our resilience,» Oleksandr Korniienko concluded.
The First Deputy Speaker's working trip was also joined by Vitaliy Bezgin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative-Territorial Structure and Local Self-Government of the Committee on State Power Organisation, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, and Vyacheslav Rublev, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regional Policy and Local Budgets of the Committee on State Power Organisation, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning.