Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian ambassadors visit Zaporizhzhia

On the eve of the annual conference of heads of Ukraine’s foreign diplomatic missions, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, accompanied by over 80 Ukrainian ambassadors, visited Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhzhia region, and the Orikhiv district near the front line.

“This is an immersion in the realities of war for the heads of Ukrainian diplomatic missions who have arrived in Ukraine to participate in the 2025 conference of heads of foreign diplomatic missions,” the Minister noted.

Andrii Sybiha emphasised the importance of such visits for both Ukrainian diplomats and foreign officials, as it is in the front-line regions and directly at the front that the resilience of not only Ukrainian soldiers and communities but also the decisions of Ukraine’s allies is tested.

“The timeliness and strength of decisions on additional defence support packages and their delivery to the front line. The timeliness of decisions on sanctions against the russian economy. The timeliness of recovery, reconstruction, and investments. The front is one of the measures of the effectiveness of decisions and the results of the work of Ukrainian diplomacy as a whole, as well as individual ambassadors. The situation here is a true assessment of the diplomats’ work,” the Minister stressed.

Andrii Sybiha expressed confidence that, following this trip, the heads of Ukraine’s diplomatic missions abroad would become even more persuasive in their work and redouble their efforts to achieve a just peace, strengthen Ukraine, and increase the cost of the war for the aggressor.

Additionally, the Foreign Minister noted the particular value of visiting not only the city itself but also the region, including critically important enterprises and engaging with local people.

Ukrainian diplomats visited the secure “Sich Collegium,” a unique underground school that is literally safeguarding the future of Zaporizhzhia and Ukraine as a whole. Over a thousand children study at the facility. Currently, Zaporizhzhia has eight such safe spaces, with plans to have a total of 25 by the end of the year. Each facility is built quickly – six months from the arrival of the excavator to commissioning. The standard design, developed with UNICEF’s assistance, is implemented with funding from the European Union.

Thanks to this lyceum, which began operating in February 2025, 10 children — and 10 families — have returned from abroad. In total, thanks to eight underground schools, 1,000 children and their families have returned to Ukraine. The lack of a safe space for education is one of the top three reasons why families leave the country. Accordingly, building such safe educational spaces is literally working to protect the future and develop the economy.

“We will not let moscow steal our future, especially when it comes to children’s education and opportunities for young people. I thank the school’s director and the city and regional leadership for this critically important work,” said Andrii Sybiha.

The Minister also announced plans to scale up this success with international support and to facilitate the recovery of children abroad. Additionally, efforts will be made to motivate talented youth and nurture a generation of victory. Diplomats are ready to help young people see the world and would like to see talented young professionals join the Foreign Ministry in the future.

During the visit, Ukrainian diplomats toured strategic industrial and energy facilities in Zaporizhzhia, learning about immediate needs and prospects for developing international cooperation.

A separate part of the programme was a tribute to fallen heroes. The Foreign Ministry leadership and ambassadors visited the unique “Tree of Memory” memorial complex, where each bell corresponds to the name of a fallen hero.

Andrii Sybiha noted that, despite the war and daily russian terror, Zaporizhzhia continues to live and develop, testifying to the strength and resilience of Ukrainians. He emphasised that Zaporizhzhia is the heart of Ukrainian industry and the cradle of the Ukrainian Cossack spirit.

The heads of embassies received clear instructions to attract additional international support for the region, including further investments, foreign businesses, and the establishment of interregional partnerships between municipalities and cities. This includes supporting economic resilience and creating opportunities for people so they feel they have a future despite the challenges of wartime.

At the end of the trip, the diplomats visited Khortytsia, a special place of strength and the origin of the Ukrainian spirit.

“Inspired by this unique place, the Cossack spirit, and military ingenuity. Then, as now, our military strength and our army are part of Europe’s glorious history of victories,” the Minister noted.

On Khortytsia, the Foreign Minister paid tribute to the memory of Viacheslav Zaitsev, a Zaporizhzhia historian and head of the information and publishing department of the Khortytsia National Reserve. He volunteered to defend Ukraine in 2014 and died on the front line in autumn 2022.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude to the Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, Ivan Fedorov, for his hospitality and the organisation of the trip.

“This year’s conference of ambassadors is held under the motto ‘From the strength of diplomacy to the diplomacy of strength.’ Such trips before the start of the week’s work and plenary sessions allow us to feel the true strength of our people and our army, which we must reinforce every day through our work with partners,” the Minister stressed.

The first day of the annual conference of heads of foreign diplomatic missions will be opened on Monday, 21 July, by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will outline the key priorities for the diplomatic system in the near future.