On 29 August 2022, the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, together with the Minister of Health, Daniels Pavļuts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Olexandr Mischenko, visited the National Rehabilitation Centre “Vaivari”, where they met with Ukrainian servicemen wounded in hostilities in Ukraine.
In his address, Edgars Rinkēvičs thanked the soldiers for their courage and selfless service in fighting for the freedom of their country. He expressed hope that under the care and guidance of Latvian doctors they would recover soon. Ukraine is currently fighting not only for its own freedom and independence, but also for the freedom of Latvia and Europe as a whole, the Minister emphasised.
The Ukrainian Ambassador expressed thanks for long-lasting cooperation and the work of Latvian medical specialists in the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers. Olexandr Mischenko noted that today, tribute was being paid to Ukrainian soldiers who fought against Russia’s aggression. In his address to the soldiers present and to representatives from the Ukrainian armed forces, the Ambassador underlined that the Latvian Foreign Ministry had been implementing the initiative since 2014 to provide assistance to seriously injured Ukrainian servicemen.
Russia began its aggression against Ukraine in 2014 and launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. In the course of active hostilities, military personnel in the service of the Ukrainian armed forces are dying or suffering injuries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs began the project in 2014, and it continues providing all possible support to Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor. The Ministry is implementing the rehabilitation scheme in cooperation with the National Rehabilitation Centre “Vaivari”, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Welfare. 58 Ukrainian military injured in the armed conflict have received treatment in Latvia from 2014 till 2019. It is envisaged that 50 Ukrainians will undergo rehabilitation in Latvia this year.