New Strategy Center is organizing a camp for children of Ukrainian soldiers from the 128th Mountain Hunter Brigade in Transcarpathia from July 16 to August 1. This unit has distinguished itself in the battles to liberate the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, as well as other important areas of Ukraine under temporary Russian occupation, and is still on the front lines fighting.  Among the children who will attend the camp are some of the children of ethnic Ukrainian fighters. 25 children from Transcarpathia, together with 5 accompanying persons, will get to know the beauties of the coast, the counties of Brasov and Bistrita-Nasaud, go on excursions and hikes, visit the Dolphinarium in Constanta, the Black Church in Brasov, the Dino Park in Rasnov and various museums.

George Scutaru, NSC Director General, was present in Uzhgorod, the capital of the Transcarpathian region, on 16 July, at the start of the Ukrainian children’s journey to Romania, and said that this camp is a small gesture of solidarity and gratitude for those who today are fighting against tyranny. “Although neighbours, we are only now getting to know each other better, Romanians and Ukrainians. We are happy that this group of children from Transcarpathia will see the beauties of Romania for the first time, they will have their first beautiful memories of our country. We have a chance for a future together, in the EU and NATO. Romania will support Ukraine as much as necessary to liberate your territories.”

Volodymyr Chubirko, President of the Transcarpathian Regional Council, expressed his gratitude for the solidarity expressed by the Romanian people, for the aid Romania is giving to Ukraine and for the initiative of the New Strategy Center to organise the visit of the Transcarpathian children’s group. “Such gestures make it easier for us to overcome hardships and have confidence in our victory. We greatly appreciate what Romania is doing for Ukraine, the help you are always giving us.”

At the meeting in Uzhgorod, Viktor Mykyta, chairman of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration, said: “The parents of these children distinguished themselves in the struggle to defend Kherson, now they are back on the front. Thank you for giving these children the opportunity to get to know Romania. Thank you for Romania’s help and support. We really need this help.”

The departure of the children from Uzhgorod to Romania was attended by several local officials, as well as the Romanian Ambassador in Kyiv, H.E. Victor Micula, who said, “During my first visit to Transcarpathia last year, one of the requests was to organize a camp for the children of the soldiers of the 128th Mountain Hunters Brigade in Transcarpathia. I am glad that New Strategy Center got involved in this project, quickly found solutions, called on private support and so we can come to you when the group of children leaves for the trip to Romania. There are many projects in which Romania is involved, I am glad that we also have such initiatives from the private sector, and New Strategy Center is proving its important role here as well in building bridges of communication and carrying out projects that are useful to both our countries.”

This camp was organised at the request of the Transcarpathian regional administration and with the support of the Romanian Ambassador to Ukraine, H.E. Victor Micula. New Strategy Center thanks Leviatan Design for their generous support in organizing this camp for children in Ukraine. Present in Ujgorod, Cătălin Podaru, CEO of Leviatan Design, said that “such a project has the benefit of giving children from Ukraine the chance to get to know Romania directly, to learn how we live and how we support Ukraine. After the war is over, we expect them to come back and visit us.” 

New Strategy Center (NSC) is a Romanian think tank specializing in foreign, defense and security policy, educational and research activities, a non-partisan, non-governmental organization. Since January 2023 NSC has set up a department dedicated to organizing activities in support of Ukraine, as an expression of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, hard hit by the Russian invasion.