42,000 euros raised for generators in Odessa
For more than four years, our Ukrainian sister city, Odessa, has been suffering the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression. Russian forces regularly attack residential areas and civilian infrastructure with drones and missiles. Energy infrastructure is particularly targeted, with the destruction of these facilities intended to disrupt the supply of electricity, heat, and water to the population.
Against this backdrop, the state capital of Mainz, the German-Ukrainian Society for Economics and Science, the Ukrainian Association of Mainz, and the Mainz-Odessa Sister City Association launched an appeal for donations for their sister city this spring.
Mayor Nino Haase explains: “When our friends in Odessa are in need, it goes without saying that we in Mainz will help our sister city in Ukraine. The tremendous willingness of Mainz residents to help demonstrates just how vibrant and united this partnership is.”
The response to the appeal for donations was impressive: a total of 42,000 euros was raised. With these funds, the German-Ukrainian Society purchased five high-performance generators and arranged for their transport over more than 2,100 kilometers to Odessa. The City of Mainz contributed another large generator.
The generators were delivered to four kindergartens and one elementary school. They enable these institutions to remain operational even during power outages and, in particular, to ensure that the children receive hot meals.
Lukas Augustin, President of the German-Ukrainian Society for Economy and Science, expressed his gratitude to all supporters: “We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their generous help. Our friends in Odessa and throughout Ukraine are defending not only their own country, but also the freedom and values of Europe.”
At the same time, the organizers point out that the need for support remains great. Many Ukrainian cities are already preparing for the coming winter, during which further attacks on energy infrastructure and associated power outages are expected. For this reason, donations are still being collected to purchase additional generators and other emergency power solutions.
Anyone wishing to support the people of Odessa can continue to donate to the Mainz-Odessa Partnership Association (Volksbank Darmstadt Mainz eG, IBAN: DE49 5519 0000 0653 9900 10). A donation receipt will be issued upon request.
