On April 29, representatives of the Donetsk Regional State Administration took part in an expanded meeting chaired by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, to address issues concerning Ukrainian citizens residing abroad. The main focus of the event was the protection of the rights and interests of Ukrainians who, due to the war, have been forced to leave the country.
Donetsk Oblast was represented by Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration, and representatives of the regional administration’s departments.
Participants paid special attention to preserving Ukrainian identity among young people. They discussed the creation of transparent mechanisms for the recognition of Ukrainian diplomas in European countries, presented the results of developing an adapted standard for the Ukrainian language as a foreign language for school-age children, and the introduction of identity certificates for children from national minorities and foreigners of Ukrainian origin.
Separately, participants addressed the issue of supporting the most vulnerable groups of citizens. In particular, they outlined approaches to issuing Ukrainian passports for travel abroad to individuals currently evacuated outside the country.
In her closing remarks, Iryna Vereshchuk emphasized the need for close cooperation between ministries, the Office of the President of Ukraine, and regional state administrations.
The meeting demonstrated the authorities’ shared commitment to responding promptly to the needs of citizens abroad, strengthening interagency coordination, and implementing concrete solutions. The implementation of these initiatives will help strengthen Ukrainians’ ties to the state and ensure an adequate level of support regardless of their location.