A meeting was held in Kyiv at the #IAllReturn_Bakhmut hub with Urban Fry, a Swiss cultural and civic leader and founder of the Ukrainian cultural center “Prostir.”
Urban Frey is a member of the Lucerne Cantonal Council, a volunteer, and a philanthropist who has consistently supported Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. His work combines cultural diplomacy with practical assistance—from presenting Ukrainian projects on European platforms to personally participating in humanitarian missions. He drove over 2,700 km in a truck to deliver a fire truck to one of the Ukrainian communities.
The “Prostir” Center, which he founded, has become an important hub of support for over a thousand internally displaced Ukrainians, a space for creativity, psychological support, integration, and the preservation of national identity abroad. Through his initiative, over 70 musical instruments were donated to Ukrainian cultural institutions.
Mr. Fry pays particular attention to supporting Ukrainian youth and developing the cultural environment. In particular, in February of this year, he provided logistics, accommodation, and support for a charity tour by the chamber orchestra of the Ivan Karabits Bakhmut College of Culture and Arts to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The guest was received by Oleksandr Marchenko, Deputy Head of the Bakhmut City Military Administration. During the meeting, they discussed the activities of the Bakhmut branch, efforts to support residents of the Bakhmut community affected by the war, and initiatives in the areas of education, culture, and social cohesion.
They discussed opportunities for international cooperation, joint cultural and educational projects, and presenting Bakhmut’s experience in Europe.
We thank Urban Fraj for his solidarity with the Ukrainian people, his attention to the Bakhmut community, and the meaningful dialogue.
Based on materials from the Bakhmut City Council