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BelgiumEuropean Royals

Queen Mathilde holds video call with First Lady Olena Zelenska

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians held a video call with Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska. 

Connecting from her office in the Royal Palace, the Queen “expressed her solidarity” to the Ukrainian people for the incredibly difficult situation they have been facing for the past three months. 

On the 24th of February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine; since then, many towns have been on the receiving end of a constant barrage of missiles and rockets, in an attempt to conquer them. 

However, the Ukrainian people have shown exemplary strength and determination, and Russia was forced to withdraw troops from several areas of the country, including around the capital Kyiv, and focus their attention on smaller objectives. 

Since mid-April, the Eastern part of the country, which borders Russia, has seen intensified attacks, and troops there have been struggling to hold their ground, as they plead with the international community for more weapons. 

Queen Mathilde also raised concerns about the mental health consequences that this conflict has and will have on the Ukrainian population. Many people lost loved ones, and properties have been irreparably damaged. 

Many Ukrainians have also been the victims of alleged war crimes, which include the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Ukrainian justice system is currently investigating countless instances of alleged war crimes, including the deliberate killing of civilians, which were hidden in mass graves. 

And finally, the Queen of the Belgians and the Ukrainian First Lady discussed the challenges faced by school children in conflict areas. Not only because many schools have been transformed in bomb shelters for the civilian population and are no longer standing, but also because of the additional challenge that traumatised children face in a learning environment. 

Belgium is currently hosting a small community of Ukrainian refugees, who fled the conflict in the early weeks of the invasion. The crown also authorised the use of some of its buildings to offer to house to part of the refugees.