Delegation of Finnish Volunteers Visits Volyn: Meeting at the Volyn Regional Council and ME Volynpryrodresurs

Representatives of Finnish volunteer organisations met with Chairman of the Volyn Regional Council Hryhorii Nedopad and the coordinator of this humanitarian mission in Volyn, regional council deputy Yurii Kharchenko.

As part of their visit to the Volyn region, the Finnish volunteers also visited the mining municipal enterprise Volynpryrodresurs of the Volyn Regional Council. The delegation was received by the head of the enterprise.

The delegation included volunteers united around the civic defence formation “Lev” Defence Team, which began providing systematic assistance to Ukraine, including the Volyn region, from the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The mission was initiated and coordinated by the head of the organisation, Tomi Hiltunen, who succeeded in bringing together several Finnish volunteer organisations around a common goal. During the period of cooperation, they organised training for Ukrainian soldiers and delivered around 40 vehicles and nearly one hundred quadcopters to the front line.

During the visit to ME Volynpryrodresurs, Director Anatolii Kapustiuk introduced the Finnish partners to the activities of the enterprise, which is critically important for the region and plays a significant role in ensuring the energy security of the Volyn region. Particular attention was paid to the extraction of energy peat, which, under the conditions of war and regular attacks on energy infrastructure, helps provide heating for social institutions, hospitals, schools, municipal facilities and homes of residents of the region.

Director of ME Volynpryrodresurs, Anatolii Kapustiuk, emphasised the importance of international solidarity in strengthening energy resilience:

"In wartime conditions, the issue of energy security has become critically important for Ukraine. Peat as a local energy resource allows us to reduce dependence on external factors and maintain the stable functioning of the social sector even during blackouts. We are interested in developing cooperation with Finnish partners who have extensive experience in the peat industry."

For their part, the Finnish volunteers were interested in the practical experience of critical enterprises operating under martial law, adaptation to energy challenges and opportunities for deepening cooperation in the fields of energy security and sustainable development.

ME Volynpryrodresurs expresses sincere gratitude to Finnish volunteer organisations and the entire delegation for their initiative, solidarity and consistent support for Ukraine and the Volyn region. We are convinced that such partnerships strengthen the resilience of communities, deepen international solidarity and bring our Victory closer.