It’s Day 42 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russians have withdrawn from the region of Kyiv and are currently focusing on taking control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east.
One person was killed and five others wounded due to shelling in the city of Rubizhne in Luhansk. Reports of atrocities and missing persons are still emerging from formerly occupied cities and towns such as Hostomel and Borodzianka.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new round of proposed EU sanctions in light of continuing Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
The new measures include an import ban on coal worth EUR 4 billion per year, a transaction embargo on four key Russian banks, closing EU ports to Russian-operated vessels, and targeted export and import bans worth up to EUR 5.5 billion.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz welcomed the European Union’s proposed new sanctions against Russia, but added that the bloc should ban “all Russian energy,” including oil and gas, “not just coal.”
The proposals mirror requests made earlier in the week by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. While on a visit to Warsaw, Kuleba demanded “new devastating” sanctions against Russia from the G7 group of nations, including an “oil, gas and coal embargo;” the closure of “all ports to Russian vessels and goods;” and a decision to “disconnect all Russian banks” from the SWIFT bank messaging system.
Enacting the proposed sanctions would require unanimous support by all 27 EU member states, which may prove problematic. Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, who was re-elected over the weekend in a landslide victory, has been reticent to jeopardize his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: Radio Poland, BBC, Reuters
Two student dormitories capable of sheltering up to 400 refugees have been loaned to the City of Sopot for a year by the University of Gdańsk.
The buildings at 1 Maja and along ul. Bitwy pod Płowcam were not currently in use. In an agreement signed last Friday, Sopot city officials agreed to prepare the facilities, obtain the necessary approvals for temporary use, and equip them so that refugees can take up residence as soon as possible.
According to the Mayor of Sopot, Jacek Karnowski, the dormitories will provide “the most decent living conditions possible” and alleviate the need to house refugees in large gyms or other converted spaces. According to his spokeswoman, Izabela Heidrich, new residents from Ukraine have already found shelter in the dormitories.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
The Government Security Center of Poland (RCB) recently published an emergency preparation guide to help residents manage and prepare for crisis situations.
“Be ready – a guide for times of crisis and war” provides simple tips on preparing for emergencies and how to act in crisis situations, such as wars, natural disasters, or industrial accidents.
The guide covers a wide range of topics, such as how to prepare an evacuation plan, how to protect against disinformation and panic, how to behave during an alarm and what different emergency signals mean, and how to provide first aid.
According to the RCB, the ability to deal with crisis situations is a crucial aspect of building resilient communities and addressing national emergencies. The guide was developed in response to questions from citizens and media representatives about teaching materials on how to behave in times of crisis.
The materials are currently available for download on the RCB official website and social media profiles.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Polish football champions Legia Warszawa have announced they will host Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv next week in a charity game to raise funds for those internally displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Next week’s game will be the first in a series of encounters between Dynamo Kyiv and Europe’s top clubs, “designed to show the world that Ukrainians are seeking peace and freedom while defending their country against the Russian aggressor,” Poland’s PAP news agency reported.
Tickets range in price from 30 to 300 PLN, with the option to pay more to support the cause. Proceeds from attendance, a donation collection, and special auctions will go towards help for Ukraine’s internal refugees, according to statements from Legia Warszawa.
The „Match for Peace” will take place on Tuesday, April 12, at 20:30 Warsaw time.
Source: Radio Poland
Weather
Today will be cloudy and cold, with a good chance for rain throughout the day and a strong breeze coming in from the southwest. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than yesterday, with a high around 10°C, or 50°F, dropping to an overnight low of 3°C or 37°F. Slightly warmer weather is expected for tomorrow, along with a chance for more rain in the late afternoon.
Elizabeth Peck/raf
