The city of Lublin helps the citizens of Ukraine

In view of the recent dramatic events in Ukraine, the City of Lublin remains in solidarity with its neighbour and offers support. We are urgently preparing a whole package of solidarity and aid measures for people fleeing the war.

The Lublin Welfare Committee for Ukraine operates at the Centre for Culture in Lublin, which provides help and information to people from Ukraine and coordinates the work of aid organizations and volunteers.

1) Hotline and support phone numbers

• 0048 533 39 15 69 - a specially created telephone number for people coming from Ukraine, where volunteers provide information on social and living matters, psychological and medical support and legal assistance for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The emergency number is only for people from Ukraine who have crossed the border and need help.
• 81 466 1000 - Contact Centre of the Lublin City Hall - residents may report the possibility of providing a room, flat or house for a temporary stay for citizens from Ukraine. Reports through the Contact Centre can be made from Monday to Friday between 7.45 am -3.15 pm.
• 882 431 094 - people who have welcomed refugees from Ukraine into their homes may report their needs for essential items to Ukrainian families;
• 666 688 439 - you can report the need for food, water and equipment for animals accompanying people fleeing the war in Ukraine;
• 81 466 25 08 - information for employers who want to register job offers for Ukrainian citizens;
• 665 500 410 - contact number to the Municipal Police;
• 81 532 08 27 - Polish Red Cross;
• 781 084 233 - Caritas of the Archdiocese of Lublin.

Emergency accommodation points, for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, have been opened in 15 locations in Lublin. At present, they can accommodate over 2000 people. There are more locations in store, ready to be launched as needed. The Municipal Family Support Centre, together with the Crisis Intervention Centre and volunteers, is responsible for the coordination of the food supply chain and the care of people seeking shelter there. First contact teams providing psychological and linguistic help operate in these places.

Lubliners who have lodged people from Ukraine, can also count on support. You can report the need for essential items for Ukrainian families by calling 882 431 094. You can also call to Caritas Archdiocese of Lublin 781 084 233.

The increased number of the Municipal Police staff, together with the Municipal Crisis Management Centre (monitoring), persistently examins the situation on the main entrances to the city, streets and parking lots in order to direct people who need help to a place of temporary accommodation, if necessary. The contact number for the Municipal Police is 665 500 410.

Donations are coordinated by the Polish Red Cross. Contact number for the PRC: 81 532 08 27. Up-to-date information on collecting the necessary items is available on the organization's website.

The city also introduces the usage of public transport and parking spaces for Ukrainian citizens. From February 28, pursuant to the order of the Mayor of Lublin, Ukrainian citizens who seek shelter in our city as a result of hostilities may travel free of charge by public transport in Lublin. The documents confirming Ukrainian citizenship are obligatory to travel free of charge. Ultimately, at the next City Council session, the Mayor will submit a resolution regulating the exemption of fees for public transport payment of Ukrainian citizens. The draft resolution on exemption from paying for parking spaces in the Paid Parking Zone is also being developed.

Education of children from Ukraine

Children and students from Ukraine interested in education are admitted to Lublin nursery schools and primary schools near their place of residence. In case of secondary schools, to a school allowing education in accordance with the started education profile. Details of the admission procedure to educational institutions and language support are available at lublin.eu/edukacja.

Exemptions from fees for food and accommodation  for school dormitories

Students of school dormitories run by the City of Lublin, being citizens of Ukraine, are exempt from paying for food and accommodation. It is valid from March 3 to the end of the school year.

The City of Lublin also compiles information on employment opportunities for Ukrainian citizens in companies based in the city of Lublin or in the Lublin Voivodeship. Employers can submit employment opportunities via the form available at the link. Apart from a brief description of the company, the employer may specify the profile of the employees sought, as well as indicate the forms of additional support that they are able to provide to employees and/or their families.

All offers are translated into Ukrainian language and ultimately, together with contact details, are posted on the website: www.gospodarczy.lublin.eu/ukraina. More information for prepared employers can be obtained from the Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department of the Lublin City Hall, e-mail: biznes@lublin.eu, tel. 81 466 25 08.

A special telephone number is also displayed on the information screens of the municipal Traffic Management System. This is useful information for people fleeing Ukraine who reach Lublin by car.

The organisers of the Lublin Welfare Committee for Ukraine are the Homo Faber Association and Fundacja Kultury Duchowej Pogranicza (the Borderland Spiritual Culture Foundation). The Committee has prepared an on-line form, where residents can submit accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. People and organizations wishing to help can find useful information on the Homo Faber Association website.

The activities of the local crisis management team are also supported by municipal cultural institutions. Analyzing the current situation, the Lublin cultural institutions adjust their activities to the needs of refugees from Ukraine.

Galeria Labirynt (Popiełuszki 5 Steet), together with the Strefa Dorastania Foundation, has launched a club for refugee children and youth from Ukraine. The common room is located in the basement of Galeria Labirynt at Popiełuszki 5 street in Lublin. It provides care for children and young people when adults need to deal with red-tape and others. There will be people who know Ukrainian. Adults will stay with children all the time. The common room is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9.00- 4.00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday between 12.00-4.00 p.m.

Additionally, Ukrainian children care and a space for parents to rest are offered by the "Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Dzieci" Society (Narutowicza 54 street). Classes are held from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (with the possibility of extension as needed).

A friendly space for children and adults fleeing the war in Ukraine is also made available by Węglin District Culture Centre (Judyma 2a street) from Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and the Academic Centre for Culture and Media of UMCS Chatka Żaka (I. Radziszewskiego 16 street) also from Monday to Friday: from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm - classes for children and their guardians, from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm - classes for teenagers and adults.

Branches of the Municipal Public Library also offer help for refugees from Ukraine including cultural and educational activities. Hans Christian Andersen Theatre (Centre for the Meeting of Cultures in Lublin, Plac Teatralny 1) proposes a programme of some great events for families, children, teenagers and adults.

A day-room for children from Ukraine and a resting place for their parents are also run by Workshops of Culture (Old Town, Grodzka 5a Street - ground floor). Children will find care there between 10.00- 4.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The Mother Base operates in the Centre for Culture in Lublin (Peowiaków 12 Street). It is a friendly, sensory room for children with space for parents. There are toys, blocks, cuddly toys, art materials and sensory aids. There is also a kitchen, internet, desktop and printer that you can use. The Mother Base is open daily. Childcare is provided between 9.00- 4.00 p.m.

Aid for refugees from Ukraine is also offered by branches of the City Public Library, offering cultural and educational activities. Detailed information on cultural and educational activities can be found at the link.

Ukrainian citizens who came to Poland due to the armed conflict in Ukraine and need or will need medical assistance is provided in the same way as in the case of Polish patients.

This applies to Ukrainian citizens who have a certificate issued by the Border Guard of the Republic of Poland or a stamp imprint of the Border Guard of the Republic of Poland in the travel document, confirming their legal stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland, after crossing the border from 24 February, 2022, in connection with an armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine.

Detailed information in this regard is available on the website of the National Health Fund / Lublin Branch.

The possibility of vaccination against Covid-19 has also been introduced for foreigners of Ukrainian nationality under the National Vaccination Programme. Information about this has been published by the National Health Fund in Ukrainian language on the website Вакцинація проти Covid-19 іноземців - громадян України.

In addition to the working hours of the Primary Healthcare (at night, on weekends and public holidays), the First Contact Teleplatform was also launched, operating in Ukrainian: Телеплатформа першого контакту

Ukrainian citizens can also benefit from free dental assistance. Almost 300 dental offices from various parts of Poland have joined this initiative, and the number of offices is growing every hour. The browser for dental offices offering assistance is available on the website www.dentysciukrainie.pl. The website has a translation into Ukrainian.

Aid for pets affected by war in Ukraine

The City of Lublin, in cooperation with Lublin Shelter for Homeless Animals, 8kolor Foundation and pet shops, conducts a collection for animals that accompany people fleeing war in Ukraine. Currently, food, water and accessories are the most necessary items. Animal transporters, especially small ones, are collected as a matter of urgency due to the fact that pets are often transported on owners' hands or in conditions enabling pet escape. Packages of dog, cat, bird and rodent food should not be substantial so that it can be effortlessly transported. Still water should have a 250 or 500 ml capacity. 1 liter food and water containers, preferably metal, are also useful.

Drop-off donation points are situated at five locations throughout the city:

• Shelter for Homeless Animals in Lublin, Metalurgiczna 5 street, from 10.00 am - 7.00 pm;
• Leopardus pet shop, Galeria Felicity, Wincentego Witosa 32 street, from 9.00 am - 9.00 pm;
• Zoocentrum pet shop, Droga Męczenników Majdanka 74L street, from 9.00 am - 5.00 pm;
• Leopardus pet shop, Galeria Vivo, Unii Lubelskiej 2 street, from 9.00 am - 9.00 pm;
• Taurus pet shop, Zbożowa 69 street, from 11.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.

Ukrainian citizens can request food, water and equipment for their pets by calling 8kolor Foundation: 666 688 439.

Free of charge legal assistance

Attorney-at-laws of the District Chamber of Legal Advisers in Lublin provide free legal assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, as well as their relatives remaining in the country. Citizens of Ukraine can send legal inquiries regarding border crossing, legalisation of stay, or requests for a lawyer to be contacted at the e-mail address: ua@oirp.lublin.pl.

The District Chamber of Legal Advisers in Lublin also provides advice and assistance to people who want to allocate units for the resettled refugees or provide employment to Ukrainian citizens. A 24-hour telephone number was also introduced: +48 518 777 025. You can text a request to contact a lawyer.

Legal services can be provided in Polish, Ukrainian, English and French.