The all-out war in Ukraine has been raging for three years. On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded the neighboring country after annexing the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 in violation of international law. Ukraine's future is currently more uncertain than ever. To this day, the Ukrainian people are fighting back against the Russian aggressors with great courage and the will to survive. On the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, people in Bonn are showing their solidarity. The City of Bonn is also organizing a high-profile panel discussion on the topic.
"The past three years in Ukraine have been characterized by suffering and destruction, flight and death. But also by resistance and the indomitable will of Ukrainians to defend their and our freedom," says Mayor Katja Dörner. From the very first day in Bonn, she has noticed a strong sense of solidarity: "I would like to thank everyone who has supported refugees on their arrival and far beyond. Those who took people in, accompanied them to the authorities and helped them learn German. Who have made friends with new neighbors, colleagues and classmates," said the mayor. She would also like to thank the people from Ukraine who have come to Bonn and are contributing here, supporting each other and enriching the city's society through a variety of activities. More than 6,300 people from Ukraine have fled to Bonn since the war began. A good 3,600 Ukrainians are currently still in the federal city. There are currently 988 people from Ukraine living in municipal accommodation. The trend is continuing to decline. Many manage to find accommodation on their own.
Rally on the market
Under the motto "Three years of Russian full-scale invasion - Together for a free Ukraine and a peaceful Europe", the Blue-Yellow Cross German-Ukrainian Association Bonn together with the student initiative UniBonn.UA and the Free Theater Mriya Bonn are inviting people to a rally on the market square on Monday, 24 February 2025, starting at 5 pm. On the third anniversary of the Russian war of aggression, the organizers are commemorating the victims of the war against Ukraine and demonstrating for a free Ukraine and a peaceful Europe.
Mayor Katja Dörner will give a welcoming address at 5:30 pm. "We are concerned to see how humanitarian aid is being called into question these days. How the powerful of this world are negotiating the future of their country over the heads of the Ukrainians. This must not be allowed to happen. The future of Ukraine can only be discussed with Ukraine," she emphasized.
Afterwards, a wounded Ukrainian soldier and Ukrainian refugees will speak to the participants. The program also includes a performance by the independent theater Mriya Bonn in memory of the first day of the Russian war of aggression and performances by the choir "Namysto" and the "Trio4Ukraine".
Panel discussion on the future of Ukraine
As part of the "Bonn Humanitarian & Development Talks" series, the City of Bonn, together with the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia and the organization Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, invites you to a panel discussion on the topic "Three years after the invasion - Ukraine and the question of perspective" on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 6 pm, at the Haus der Bildung. After a welcome by Mayor Katja Dörner, Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Head of the State Chancellery, will introduce the topic.
Afterwards, Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Karl-Otto Zentel, Secretary General of CARE Germany, Edith Wallmeier, Federal Managing Director of ASB Germany, and Tamara Vuković from the German-Ukrainian Blue-Yellow Cross Association will discuss the challenges and prospects of humanitarian aid and development cooperation in Ukraine. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Thorsten Klose-Zuber, Secretary General of Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe. It is necessary to register in advance at https://tinyurl.com/anmeldungbonn. (opens in a new tab)
Solidarity and donation partnership for Kherson
On February 9, 2023, the Bonn City Council decided to establish a solidarity partnership with Kherson in order to provide concrete support to Ukraine and one of its municipalities. This was preceded by an official request from Kherson, which reached the Bonn city administration via the Ukrainian Consulate General in January 2023. The partnership focuses on providing humanitarian support to the people of Kherson and helping to rebuild local administrative structures.
Together with the Bonn-based aid organization "Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe", the City of Bonn has launched the "Bonn hilft Cherson" donation project as part of its solidarity partnership with the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Around 268,000 euros in donations have been received so far, and Help initially provided a further 100,000 euros from Help emergency aid funds. Help continues to collect donations to secure medical care in Kherson. So far, one children's hospital has already been equipped with an urgently needed incubator for newborns, an X-ray machine and medicines. Two other hospitals in Kherson received a video gastroscope and endoscopic equipment. Patients at the maternity clinic in Kherson benefit from an important oxygen concentrator.
The need in Kherson is still great and Help will therefore continue to supply hospitals in the region with medical supplies this year. Help is still urgently dependent on donations for this. If you would like to donate: Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, IBAN: DE47 3708 0040 0240 0030 00, BIC: DRES DE FF 370, keyword: Bonn hilft Cherson. Donating online is also very easy. Further information can be found at https://www.bonn-hilft-cherson.de/.
The city of Bonn itself also supports Kherson by donating vehicles. Most recently, in December 2024, four vehicles from the Bonn fire department were sent to Ukraine. In addition, the Central Warehouse for Donations in Kind Bonn (ZeSaBo) repeatedly supports large collection campaigns, for example for hygiene articles or baby food.
About Kherson
The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, with around 290,000 inhabitants (as of 2021, before the Russian attack), was under heavy fire right at the start of the fighting. The Russian military captured it in March 2022. Tens of thousands of people fled Kherson as a result. In September 2022, the Ukrainian military launched a counter-offensive - and succeeded in liberating the city from Russian occupation. The fighting led to severe destruction, including numerous civilian buildings as well as infrastructure such as schools, kindergartens, hospitals and energy supplies. Due to its close proximity to the front line, Kherson continues to come under fire on a daily basis. Kherson is currently under military administration. Around 50,000 inhabitants are still there, including many sick and elderly people.