Hollywood actress and UNHCR ambassador Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to Lviv yesterday to meet with Ukrainian war refugees.

As part of her duties as a UN special envoy for refugees, Jolie spoke with Ukrainians who had fled active conflict zones and volunteers providing psychological help to refugees at the Lviv train station.

She also visited a hospital to meet children injured three weeks ago in a Russian attack on a railway station in Kramatorsk. According to Ukrainian authorities, over 50 civilians were killed in the attack.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was hit by multiple Russian shellings yesterday, according to reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The military administration in the region claims that one person was killed and five were injured “as a result of enemy artillery and mortar strikes.” Although Ukraine has retained control of Kharkiv, the city has been repeatedly battered by Moscow’s forces and still faces daily attacks.

Ukrainian forces also reported recapturing the “strategically important” village of Ruska Lozova, near Kharkiv, along with the successful evacuation of hundreds of civilians.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

According to newly released survey data, around 91 percent of Poles are in favor of accepting refugees from war-torn Ukraine.

Surveys conducted between March 28 and April 7 by polling company CBOS show overwhelming support for admitting refugees from Ukraine, with only 4% opposed.

A separate study conducted by polling agency IBRIS found that nearly two-thirds of Poles (66%) reported providing material or other support to Ukraine and its people in response to the ongoing war.

According to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, more than 5.4 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

Poland has taken in 3.05 million refugees from Ukraine as of Saturday evening, with cities such as Wrocław, Kraków, and Lublin seeing a nearly 20% increase in their populations.

Source: Radio Poland, Straż Graniczna, @UniaMetropolii

The Ministry of National Defense has appealed to residents to refrain from publishing photos and other information showing the movement of military vehicles and aircraft in Poland.

Residents are likely to see the increased presence of military vehicles on roads and highways across Poland starting today as part of annual training exercises conducted by the Polish Armed Forces.

In connection with planned “Iron Gate” exercises, columns of military vehicles will likely be present in the voivodeships of Zachodniopomorskie, Lubuskie, Wielkopolskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Łódzkie, Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, and Warmińsko-Mazurskie.

Convoys will be accompanied by military and civilian police units and will often travel at night to avoid blocking traffic.

Officials have asked residents not to publish information and photos showing the movements of troops and their locations, dates and times for traveling military columns, or data on the departures and landings of military aircraft.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Radio Gdańsk will be on this move this holiday weekend, with mobile studio visits to Krynica Morska, Gdynia, Żukowo, and Puck.

Magdalena Manasterska will kick off the program in Gdynia today at 10:00 am with a segment featuring history enthusiast, author, and long-time admirer of Gdynia, Arkadiusz Brzęczek. He will be followed by interviews with Beata Nawrocka, the new director of Gdynia’s Konsult Kultury, and Katarzyna Korzeniewska from the association Halo Kultura, who will take us to the underground art scene at the City Market Halls.

Tune in or stop by for great guests, fantastic music, and many surprises. More information is available >>>HERE.

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the morning and a strong breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a high around 14°C, or 58°F, dropping to an overnight low of 3°C or 37°F. Tomorrow is expected to be warm and sunny, with a chance for rain returning on Tuesday.

EP/am