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Newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy met with community representatives
On 18 April, a meeting was held in Rome between representatives of the Ukrainian community and the newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy, Ihor Brusylo. The event was organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy. The meeting was attended by activists, volunteers and representatives of the diaspora, including representatives of the associations NAU, CRASA and Dateci Le Ali. The main aim of the event was to facilitate an open dialogue between the new Ambassador and the Ukrainian community, as well as to discuss current issues regarding cooperation, support for Ukrainians and the development of initiatives in Italy. Participants discussed opportunities for coordinating joint projects and strengthening communication between diplomatic institutions and civil society. Among those present was Alona Siwerska, a representative of the CRASA APS association. During the meeting, she spoke about the organisation’s activities and presented completed projects and initiatives, including the UA Service HUB platform based on the website work.crasa.team. As a symbolic gesture, Siwerska presented the Ambassador with a calendar entitled ‘Ukrainian Women in Italy’ – another of the association’s charitable projects aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture in Italy. It should be noted that such meetings are an important part of the interaction between diplomatic institutions and the Ukrainian community abroad, helping to strengthen ties, support the community and develop new joint initiatives.
The number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU has increased
Over the past month, the number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU has risen by 22,415. This is according to Eurostat data. According to UA service HUB, as of the end of February, 4.40 million Ukrainians were granted temporary protection in the EU.The increase stands at +0.5%. 📈 Leaders in terms of growth: 🇩🇪 Germany — +7,245 (+0.6%) 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — +2,445 (+0.6%) 🇪🇸 Spain — +2,425 (+0.9%) 📉 Countries from which the most Ukrainians left: 🇪🇪 Estonia — 710 (−2.1%) 🇫🇷 France — 465 (−0.9%) 🇱🇺 Luxembourg — 5 (−0.1%) 📊 Overall breakdown ➖ Adult women — 43.5% ➖ Children — 30.2% ➖ Men — 26.3%
War through the eyes of a woman: an exhibition of Ukrainian photographers to be held in Naples
On Friday, 24 April, the Museo Plart will host the opening event of the 11th Imbavagliati International Festival of Citizen Journalism. The event will take place from 4 pm to 6 pm and will serve as an important platform for reflecting on the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The centrepiece of the event will be a photography exhibition on the theme ‘War through the eyes of an ordinary woman’. The works are by Ukrainian photographers Oleksandr Gimanov, Taras Fedorenko and Viktoria Govorushchenko, who document the current realities of Ukraine. The event will feature a musical performance by Ukrainian musician Svitlana Khronenko (mandolin) and Roberto Bianca (viola), who will perform Giovanni Hoffmann’s Serenata in D major. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Fondazione Plart and organised by the CRASA APS association. The event will also feature the launch of the UA Service Hub online platform, created on the basis of the work.crasa.team website, which aims to support the Ukrainian community and promote integration in Italy. The festival’s prologue aims not only to draw attention to the tragedy of the war in Ukraine, but also to highlight the power of culture, journalism and international solidarity. It should be noted that the CRASA APS association was registered in 2024 and was founded primarily by female refugees. The team comprises professionals from various fields: the IT industry, PR, journalism, marketing and show business.
Conference in Naples: Italians were reminded of the Chornobyl tragedy
On 13 April, a conference was held at Naples City Hall to mark the 40th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — a tragedy that forever altered the course of history and served as a warning to all of humanity. According to the Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples, the event was attended by those who helped deal with the aftermath of the disaster — Dr Volodymyr Yuriyovych Chartorinsky and an active participant in the Chernobyl movement, retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Serhiy Yaroslavovych Vashchuk. The disaster response workers shared their accounts of the unprecedented threat humanity faced as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. It was thanks to the courage, self-sacrifice and high professionalism of the response workers that an even larger-scale nuclear disaster was averted, the consequences of which could have had a devastating impact on the entire European continent. Maksym Kovalenko, Consul General of Ukraine in Naples, noted that humanity must remember this terrible tragedy and make every effort to prevent similar disasters now and in the future. After all, Russian aggression against Ukraine — in particular the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and drone attacks on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — poses a threat of new disasters that know no borders. In turn, Vincenzo Santagata, Deputy Mayor of Naples, expressed his deep solidarity with the Ukrainian people and assured them of continued comprehensive support. Drawing on his medical experience, he highlighted the lethal effects of radioactive isotopes released during accidents at nuclear facilities, emphasising the seriousness of such threats to human life and health. “The Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples is sincerely grateful to the people of Italy, in particular to our Neapolitan friends, who for a long time have been hosting Ukrainian children affected by the accident for rehabilitation,” reads a statement from the consulate on Facebook. Naples continues to actively assist Ukraine today. In particular, the Naples Pharmacists’ Association, chaired by Vincenzo Santagata, regularly donates medicines as humanitarian aid to Ukrainian medical facilities. Meanwhile, the Naples Bar Association, together with the company ‘Capri Campus’ and in cooperation with the State Emergency Service of the Kyiv region, is participating in the safety monitoring of the airspace around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant using special drones and probes. It should be recalled that the Chernobyl disaster — one of the largest man-made accidents in human history — occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. An explosion at the fourth reactor led to a massive release of radioactive substances. As a result of the accident, hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated, and large areas of Ukraine and other countries were contaminated by radioactivity.
Charity Calendar "Ukrainians in Italy" brings results
The Ukrainian-Italian charity project Il Calendario Solidale "Ukrainian Women in Italy" continues to deliver tangible results. The funds raised through the initiative were transferred to the Kharkiv-based “Talon.UA” foundation and used to set up an “underground” sports hall for children. According to UA Service HUB, this is a safe space created amidst the war, where children can engage in physical activity, play and rediscover the feeling of a normal childhood. Recently, the organisers received a video from their partners in Ukraine demonstrating the results of the aid provided. The Il Calendario Solidale “Ukrainian Women in Italy” project was created by the C.R.A.S.A. APS association, founded by Ukrainian women currently living in Italy. The initiative aims not only to raise funds but also to support women’s solidarity, creative expression and personal development. Project team: • Producer and author: Zhanna Zhukova • Executive Director: Liliia Glinka • Art Director: Anastasiia Alikas • Casting manager: Alona Siverska • PR Manager: Nadezhda Bereziuk • Graphic designer: Katerina Kiro The calendar features Ukrainian women living and working in Italy: entrepreneurs, artists, volunteers, translators, managers and professional models. Each of them represents a separate month and her own story of strength, adaptation and growth. The shoot was carried out on a voluntary basis by Ukrainian photographers currently working in Italy, as well as a team of make-up artists and stylists who joined the project. Make-up and hair: Olha Martyniuk, Iryna Tkachova, Katerina Klimenko, Lino De Matteo Photographers: Iryna Levytska, Illia Dymitro, Anastasiia Alikas, Yurii Chartorynskyi, Zhanna Zhukova. The organisers emphasise that this calendar is not only a symbolic gesture of support but also a practical tool for aid — an example of how cultural initiatives can be transformed into concrete action. It should be noted that the Ukrainian dresses for the calendar were provided by the Kyiv-based brand Anna Marchuk.Media support: BusinessWoman magazine.
Ukrainian community in Italy is invited to meet the new Ambassador of Ukraine
The Embassy of Ukraine in Italy invites the Ukrainian community to a meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador, Ihor Brusyl. The event will take place on 18 April 2026 in Rome. Representatives of the Ukrainian community in Italy and leaders of Ukrainian associations are invited to attend. The meeting is organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy. The main aim of the event is to facilitate dialogue between the new Ambassador and the Ukrainian community, as well as to discuss current issues regarding cooperation, support and the development of Ukrainian initiatives in Italy. 📥 To take part in the event, you must pre-register by completing the online form: 👉 https://forms.gle/Au4RSsEnAkNaXqwf7 Registration is mandatory for all participants. The invitation is addressed to: • representatives of Ukrainian associations in Italy • activists and volunteers • representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora • civil society organisations. Such meetings are an important part of cooperation between diplomatic missions and the Ukrainian community abroad. They help to strengthen communication, coordinate joint projects and support Ukrainians in Italy. 📍 Date and venue 📅 Date: 18 April 2026 🕒 Time: 15:00 📌 Venue: Rome, Italy (the exact location will be announced in due course).
Italy tightens control over cash
Financial oversight of cash transactions is being stepped up in Italy. Banks, in collaboration with the Guardia di Finanza, are monitoring ATM withdrawals, large transactions and customers’ financial behaviour more closely.The aim of these measures is to combat tax evasion, money laundering and the shadow economy. 💳 What exactly are banks monitoring? According to UA Service HUB, financial institutions in Italy are using automated risk analysis systems. The following transactions may attract attention: -large or regular cash withdrawals over the course ofa month - frequent withdrawals of small amounts over a short period- atypical activity (e.g., withdrawals at night or in series) - discrepanciesbetween expenditure and officially declared income. ⚠️ Important: there are no ‘automatic penalties’ Acommon myth is that there are clear limits such as ‘€10,000 = investigation’ or ‘€1,000 at an ATM = suspicion’. In reality, the system works differently: - banks do not penalise automatically - there isno fixed ‘prohibited’ threshold for withdrawals -decisions are based on risk analysis and the context of transactions. Financial monitoring takes place in several stages: - the bank records all thecustomer’s transactions - algorithmsanalyse financial behaviour - suspicious transactions are flagged as “risky”- if necessary, the data is forwarded to the Guardia di Finanza. An investigation may then be launched. 🧾 An investigation may be initiated if: - expenditure does not match declared income-there are regular abnormal cashmovements- there are signs of hidden economic activity.
Ukrzaliznytsia launches a direct route from Kyiv railway station to Chisinau airport
Ukrzaliznytsia, in collaboration with its Moldovan counterparts, is launching a trial route to Revaca station, located near Chisinau International Airport. According to UA Service HUB, from 13 April, train service No. 351 from Kyiv to Chisinau will be extended to this station. Upon arrival, passengers will be met by a free shuttle bus, which will take them directly to the airport terminal. This trial run aims to assess demand for a stop near the airport. If there is significant interest from travellers, Revaca station may be included in the route of train No. 351 on a permanent basis. At the same time, Chișinău is gradually strengthening its status as a major aviation hub in the region. Thanks to the wide range of flights available, it is convenient to travel from here to many cities in Italy, including Rome, Naples, Milan, Venice and Bologna. This makes the new route even more attractive to passengers planning trips to Europe.
One million trees of memory and life: Ukrainians set a world record
🌱 On 2 May 2026, Ukrainians in over 30 countries around the world will simultaneously plant 1 million trees of remembrance and life.This is not just a campaign — it is an attempt to set a world record by bringing together several thousand Ukrainians across the globe. The aim is to draw attention to the importance of greening, to preserve the memory of those who have given their lives for Ukraine, and to create a symbol of life, unity and hope. Diplomats, politicians and public figures from various countries around the world, as well as Ukrainians in every corner of Ukraine and the globe, have already confirmed their participation in the event. This is a unique, unified story of the global Ukrainian community, living and acting together. 🌍 Organisers: the ‘Greening Ukraine’ Charitable Foundation, the ‘Global Ukrainian Community’ NGO and the Guinness World Records, with the support of international partners, communities and businesses. 📍 Anyone can join in: 🔹 as participants in the tree-planting event – Link to the Google form 🔹 as partners of the initiative – Link to Google Form Together, we are doing more than just planting trees — we are creating a global event that unites Ukrainians around the world 💚