On Saturday, 14 January, continuing their visit to Ukraine, the Saeima delegation visited the northern Chernihiv region, which had been partially occupied by Russia at the outset of the invasion and whose infrastructure has received significant damage.

"When I asked the people in Yahidne village how we could help, they urged us to send more weapons. I think that says it all. They want the Ukrainian armed forces to be able to liberate their land sooner and never let the Russian occupiers, who for a month had kept inhabitants of this village in a school basement in inhumane conditions, come back here again", said Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima.  

Latvia has undertaken to help with the reconstruction of the area, and the work has already begun. In Chernihiv, new windows have been installed with Latvian funds in a tailoring company that was damaged by shelling at the beginning of the war and has now resumed work, providing jobs for more than 70 people with special needs. In the village of Yahidne, building materials for the reconstruction of residential buildings have arrived from Latvian entrepreneurs in the framework of the Entrepreneurs for Peace movement.

"You don't have to wait for the war to end to help. Help is needed here and now. We have witnessed how volunteers here are using the materials provided by Latvia to help the villagers have homes again. Our help is needed and very much appreciated because the needs are so great. We will stand with Ukraine until victory and provide support as much as needed", said the Speaker of the Saeima.   

Today, the Latvian MPs met with Vyacheslav Chaus, Governor of Chernihiv region, who thanked them for their support, including the donation of items to the residents of the Udaitsy Education and Rehabilitation Centre in Pryluky District, Chernihiv Oblast, during the Christmas charity campaign organised by the MPs and staff of the Saeima. The Centre is home to more than 70 school-age children, almost half of whom have special needs.

The Speaker of the Saeima handed over computers, donated by Latvian entrepreneurs, to educational institutions in Chernihiv Oblast.

In view of the air raid alerts in Ukraine on Saturday, the meeting with the Governor took place in a bomb shelter.

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Saeima Press Service