ZAGREB, 15 March 2022 - Several hundred refugees from Ukraine have been provided with accommodation in Varaždin, Međimurje, and Krapina-Zagorje counties northern Croatia, and more and more are arriving on a daily basis.

Varaždin Civil Protection Service head Ivica Matošić told Hina on Tuesday that 106 Ukrainian refugees are currently staying in Varaždin County.

He noted that the county authorities were doing their best to secure the necessary accommodation capacity for the reception of more refugees.

Matošić said that around 1,200 beds were available in private accommodation.

340 refugees enter Croatia in last 24 hours

A​​​​​ccording to the latest information, 340 Ukrainian refugees entered Croatia via the Goričan border crossing in the last 24 hours, Međimurje County Civil Protection head Josip Grivec said.

Eighty-five of them will continue their journey to other countries while 15 have said that they will stay in Međimurje County, Grivec said, noting that the refugees were women and children and that they were staying in private accommodation.

In Krapina-Zagorje County there are currently 27 Ukrainian refugees, the head of the county Civil Protection service, Stjepan Skuliber, said.

Since a reception centre has still not been set up in the county, the refugees are staying in private accommodation.

ZAGREB, 15 March 2022 - The Croatian Civil Protection Directorate has called on companies and citizens to donate IT equipment for Ukraine, its humanitarian drive starts on Wednesday and it will organise the delivery of the collected and listed IT equipment to Ukraine.

The equipment will be collected based on a request made by Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Croatian Ministry of the Interior said on its website.

Companies and citizens have been asked to donate video equipment (IP cameras, video cameras), generators, communication equipment (modems, routers; IP phones, secure IP phones), personal computers, computer components (cables, headphones, computer mice); network equipment (wi-fi routers, switches, cables); mobile devices - phones, laptops; office equipment - printers, scanners, TV sets; software (Windows and Office servers); servers and server room air conditioners.

Special equipment may also be donated, such as radiofrequency measurement devices, headphones for radio devices, batteries, electromagnetic field meters, radio devices; external hard drives, USB drives; encrypted USB drives; cloud services - firewall, VPN, cloud storage services.

The IT equipment will be collected at the Civil Protection logistics facility, Kruge 52A in Zagreb, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 16-20 March.

The Civil Protection calls on everyone wishing to donate equipment to ensure the equipment is in working order, not older than 5 years and is delivered in packaging suitable for transport.

For more information donors can contact the phone number 01/237 06 73.

ZAGREB, 15 March 2022 - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his deep appreciation for the strong support of Croatian PM Andrej Plenković and his government for Ukraine, including providing security assistance and accepting refugees, and for Croatia’s active role in NATO, the U.S. Department of State said on Monday.

According to a statement signed by spokesperson Ned Price, Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine "in the face of President Putin's continued war against Ukraine.

"The Secretary expressed his deep appreciation for the strong support of Prime Minister Plenković and his government for Ukraine, including providing security assistance and accepting refugees, and for Croatia's active role in NATO."

Also discussed was the March 10 drone crash in Zagreb.

"The Secretary noted Croatia's critical role in securing the European future of the entire Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Secretary also welcomed the March 17 U.S.-Croatia Strategic Dialogue, which will bring together senior-level interagency teams to review joint efforts to advance shared priorities," the State Department said.

ZAGREB, 12 March 2022 - Western Balkan citizens have been participating in the Conference on the Future of Europe on Friday and Saturday, and European Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica said on Saturday that neither Europe nor the Conference could be complete without them.

The Executive Board of the Conference decided that during the Conference member states should work with Western Balkan countries, whose citizens could leave their proposals on a digital platform. Also, six Western Balkan countries were invited to participate in plenaries.

This was done, Šuica told Hina, because "Europe is not complete without the Western Balkans."

North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina responded to the invitation, she said, adding that their contribution is important, although less than that of the other countries "since their citizens could not participate in panels."

EU with Ukraine

Ukrainian citizens took part in a plenary in Strasbourg whereby, Šuica said, the EU wanted to send a strong message to Ukraine.

"The set of sanctions we adopted is unprecedented. Today there will be a fourth set, which means that the EU is doing everything within our remit and possibilities."

However, this is not just the about the EU because cooperation with the US, Japan, Canada and Australia is also important, Šuica said, adding that the EU and those partners are "aligning sanctions for Russia, which is the aggressor in Ukraine."

"We are also sending a message of solidarity and we are sure that Ukraine is part of the European Union, but reforms can't take place during a war. It would be illusory at this moment to say that they will become a member state, but we are sure that they belong to this part of the world, we are sure that they share our values."

Šuica went on to say that the Conference on the Future of Europe would end on 9 May, after which the proposals that have been made will be incorporated into clusters and submitted to the relevant institutions.

She said this was the first time that the Commission, the Council and the Parliament "are working together on such a big project with which we want to change the functioning of the EU for the better."

She said the Conference would continue in some form and that her proposal was to leave at least the digital platform as a permanent instrument.

For more on politics, visit TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 12 March 2022 - The European Union has demonstrated unity, speed and efficiency in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and will continue to adopt sanctions against Moscow, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in interviews with two France24 programmes on Friday.

"The purpose of all three sanctions packages is to prevent Russia from carrying out this brutal aggression on Ukraine. The European Union once again demonstrated unity, our political position was quick, efficient and clear," Plenković told the Ici l'Europe programme, speaking in French.

He spoke of the consequences of the Russian invasion, which has entered its third week.

"First, it is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, with whom we stand in solidarity. Second, it has triggered a refugee crisis in Europe unprecedented since 1945, and third, energy prices have gone up," Plenković said, adding that the latter was the main subject of a two-day summit of EU heads of state or government in Versailles, which ended on Friday.

Europe's dependency on Russian gas is above 40 per cent, and the EU leaders are trying to change this "by increasing domestic production or by importing from other gas producing countries such as Norway, Azerbaijan, Libya or Algeria, or by importing liquefied natural gas by sea," Plenković said in the Talking Europe programme. He mentioned the construction of the LNG terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk, which provided Croatia with an alternative gas supply route.

The EU heads of state or government have sent "a strong political signal that we want to intensify relations with Ukraine in any way possible on its European path," the Croatian PM said.

However, the 27 EU member states have made it clear to Ukraine that it will not be able to join the EU under fast track.

Plenković said he had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in December and signed a declaration on Ukraine's European perspective, stressing that he remained committed to this process.

Plenković said it was important that the EU was united in its condemnation of the Russian invasion. "After the statements by the Russian foreign minister we can conclude that we live in two different realities and that's why we will continue sending strong messages and adopting packages of restrictive measures to let Moscow know that what it is doing is not appropriate and that it should end it immediately," he said.

For more on politics, visit TCN's dedicated page.

March 9, 2022 - In a huge gesture of solidarity with Ukrainian veterinary students, the Zagreb Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has arranged for Ukrainian students to complete their clinical practices and studies in Croatia free of charge.

Tomorrow will be two weeks since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The result is a nearly 14-day war that has claimed the lives of 3,393 Ukrainian civilians and injured 9,000 others. Additionally, it is reported that as of yesterday, more than two million Ukrainians have fled their country because of the war. Some, especially in the first days of the Russian invasion, crossed the borders by car, but the vast majority are women, children, and the elderly on foot. It is estimated that 1,204,000 Ukrainian civilians have arrived in Poland, 191,000 in Hungary, 141,000 in Slovakia, 83,000 in Moldova, 82,000 in Romania, 453 in Belarus, 99,000 in Russia, and 210,000 in other European countries. And the numbers of Ukrainian refugees, as well as dead and wounded, continue to rise as the Russian army advances.

With reduced or ruled out chances of intervention by other countries in the conflict, for fear of a world war, the rest of the world has chosen to isolate Russia with a large number of political and economic sanctions, which range from severe financial blockade, cutting off diplomatic ties, cancellation of cultural events in the country, and even the suspension of their sports teams or athletes in international or continental competitions.

But in addition to the sanctions against Russia, in these two weeks, a large number of efforts and gestures of solidarity to assist Ukrainian refugees were registered throughout the continent. Countless civilians have appeared at the borders to welcome Ukrainian refugees with food, clothing, and transportation. Some have even entered Ukraine to pick up those who are still walking, making it easier for them to reach the border.

In Croatia, centers have been set up that serve as temporary accommodation for refugees in cities such as Zagreb, Varaždin, Osijek, or Vukovar. Likewise, throughout the country, a large number of citizens have organized themselves to receive donations and coordinate their transportation to the border. Also noteworthy are the marches in support and solidarity towards Ukraine, which also call for peace and the end of the Russian invasion. Most notably, the one that took place on Saturday at Ban Jelačić square in Zagreb.

But one gesture, in particular, deserves recognition, not only for the gesture itself but because it opens the door to other ways of assisting the victims and those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And it is that, among the millions of Ukrainians who have had to leave their homes and their country, many are university students who have been forced to stop their studies. Thus, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zagreb has provided that Ukrainian veterinary students can complete their studies, validate their courses, and complete their clinical practices in the Croatian capital, free of charge and covering food expenses, and more.

Yesterday, in a public statement shared on its official website, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine announced:

''The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zagreb expresses its sincere support to the Ukrainian people in light of the aggression against the sovereign Republic of Ukraine. With great concern, we are following the news about the events of the war in our friendly country Ukraine and express our deep sorrow for the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We feel sincere sympathy for all Ukrainian students, fellow teachers, and the entire Ukrainian nation, and we wish for an end to all aggression on the territory of the Republic of Ukraine.

We would like to help the suffering Ukrainian people and offer Ukrainian veterinary students the possibility of continuing their studies at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zagreb.

This includes:

1. Continuation of their education free of charge from the first to the sixth year, in Croatian or English.
2. The possibility of completing parts of their course at our Faculty, as part of the student exchange program.
3. Completion of clinical practice at our Faculty’s clinics including professional fieldwork.
4. Free meals in the form of lunch and evening meals in the student restaurants.
5. Provision of continuous support to the development of their careers, with academic and psychological counseling (Office for Career Development and Academic and Psychological Counselling +385 1 2390 330; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
6. An individual approach to resolving problems and classes missed as a result of the current situation.

Ukrainian veterinary students who would like to continue their studies at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Zagreb should send an e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for further details.

For more on the Ukraine crisis and Croatia, as well as breaking news, follow our news section.

ZAGREB, 8 March 2022 - The Croatian Bar Association (HOK) on Tuesday stated that it had joined in a campaign by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) to offer free legal aid to Ukrainian refugees.

Offering free legal aid is in compliance with national legislation on lawyers and their code of ethics, which envisages such assistance to endangered individuals and victims of the 1991-95 Homeland War.

HOK recalls that lawyers represent, free of charge, underage clients in certain cases as well as asylum seekers and members of the Roma community in the City of Zagreb and in Međimurje, Slavonski Brod-Posavina and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties.

ZAGREB, 5 March 2022 - Ukrainians from the Split area held a peaceful protest in Split on Saturday to support Ukraine, as did the people of Slavonski Brod to show their solidarity, while a protest against the Russian aggression on Ukraine was held in Vukovar.

Split Mayor Ivica Puljak said he hoped the aggression would end soon and that the Ukrainian people would get back their peace and freedom.

He said Ukrainian refugees were arriving in Split and that the city was in contact with all state institutions organising their reception. "We will do everything to help."

Among the protesters was Croatian MEP Željana Zovko, who said representatives of the European People's Party group visited the Vatican yesterday to discuss what the Holy See could do for peace in Ukraine.

She said Croats had been through a war and refugee experience similar to Ukrainians'.

"Croats will do all they can through the European Parliament and the European Commission to help Ukraine," Zovko said, adding that Europe has never been so united. "This war in Ukraine is evil and it must stop."

The rally in Split was organised by the Cvit association of the Ukrainian national minority in Dalmatia.

Protesters carried the flags of Ukraine and Croatia as well as banners which said "Stop Putin", "Stop War" and "Glory to Ukraine", and chanted "Glory to Ukraine" and "Long live Ukraine".

Viktorija Balan of Cvit said "Ukraine is now fighting for the democracy of the whole world, against a regime which wants to destroy democracy."

Protest in Vukovar

Some 15 citizens of Vukovar protested in the centre of the town, carrying the flags of Ukraine and Croatia and asking for the Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine to stop.

"There will be no winner. Only innocent people are dying on both sides. I fought in (Croatia's) Homeland War and know how they feel. Our national minority will try to help in this crisis as much as it can," said Stefan Bojko, president of the Ukrainian Culture and Education Society Ivan Franko from Vukovar.

"In this situation Croatia has taken a friendly stand towards the Ukrainian people," he said, adding that about 20 Ukrainian refugees are accommodated in Vukovar-Srijem County.

Slavonski Brod shows solidarity with Ukrainian people

Dozens of Slavonski Brod residents rallied in the main square to show solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine.

"By coming to this rally, you are showing support to a people that is part of Europe, a people from whom someone wants to take its land, peace, children, future," said Vlado Karešin, president of the Ukrainian Community in Croatia.

About 200 members of the Ukrainian national minority live in Brod-Posavina County. About 20 Ukrainian refugees have found shelter with relatives and friends there.

"It's difficult to talk about what is happening in Ukraine. I'm overcome by emotion when I remember the Homeland War and how we left our wives and children before going to defend Croatia. The Ukrainian people is going through the same thing today," said Nikola Zastrižni, president of the Ukrainian Culture and Education Society Ukrajina from Slavonski Brod.

"At the same time, I'm furious because I can't understand that this is happening in the 21st century, in the civilised Europe and world when we all have our rights," he added, calling for the return of peace and an end to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages.

For more on the Ukraine crisis and Croatia, as well as breaking news, follow our news section.

ZAGREB, 5 March 2022 - Russians living in Pula and Istria held an anti-war protest in Pula on Saturday, carrying banners which said "Peaceful sky for all children", "Ukraine, the Russian people is with you" and "Putin is war".

About 30 protesters, carrying the Ukrainian flag, said they did not agree with Russia's policy and its attack on a sovereign country.

"We, the Russian people living in Croatia, can't stay indifferent. We are against the senseless, destructive war, against death on both sides, against the aggression of Putin and his supporters on Ukraine, on its peaceful citizens," they said.

"This war is a disaster not just for Ukraine but for Russia, too. It could be a disaster for the whole world, for the whole humankind. That's why we support Ukraine's civilians and condemn Russia's illegal attack on the territory of a sovereign state. We are here and advocate our common future, the future of our children," the protesting Russians said, demanding that the war end.

For more on the Ukraine crisis and Croatia, as well as breaking news, follow our news section.

ZAGREB, 5 March 2022 - Croatia's Deputy PM Davor Božinović said on Saturday that 1,570 Ukrainian refugees had so far arrived in Croatia, declining to speak about the total number of refugees expected to arrive and noting that the key to the situation in Ukraine was in the hands of those who had launched the aggression.

"There is a lot of work ahead, and as regards organisation, we are very much satisfied. I would not want to talk about any concrete figures because the key to the situation in Ukraine is only in the hands of those who have launched the aggression, they know whether and when it will be stopped," Božinović, who is also Minister of the Interior, told reporters after a meeting with members of the Civil Protection in Osijek-Baranja County and Osijek.

Božinović recalled that the government had set up an interdepartmental task force coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior.

He believes that a solid legal basis has been created to define the status and needs of Ukrainian refugees, and that it will depend on how the situation develops.

Care is being taken of the smallest details, including the issuing of EU COVID certificates to Ukrainian refugees because the coronavirus epidemic is still not over, Božinović said.

Intensive talks are underway at EU level to make Europe's response uniform, notably regarding humanitarian issues and care for those most in need, said Božinović.

Asked about the state of buffer stocks and if they had been checked since the start of the war in Ukraine, Božinović said that they had definitely been checked but that it was a question for  the Directorate for Commodity Stockpiles.

"The Directorate and the competent ministry are part of the interdepartmental task force. Arrangements will be made on a daily basis, depending on the needs, and procurement procedures will be conducted in such a way to enable a response at any time, meeting the high standards of the European Commission," said Božinović.

Asked to comment on a rally of support to Russia in Belgrade, Božinović said that everyone in the current crisis was relying on the values they advocated, and that as an EU and NATO member Croatia had clearly communicated its values and response to the war in Ukraine.

Osijek Mayor Ivan Radić recalled that a reception centre for Ukrainian refugees had been set up in the city, and that a local sports hall was also available for that purpose.

The city administration has ensured free public transport for refugees and their transport from the border to Osijek, and we are also ready for the integration of children in kindergartens and schools, said Mayor Radić.

The head of the Osijek County Civil Protection, Mato Lukić, said that 65 Ukrainian refugees were currently staying in the county, 18 in two boarding houses and the rest in private accommodation facilities in Osijek and other cities in Osijek County.

For more on the Ukraine crisis and Croatia, as well as breaking news, follow our news section.