The Illinetsk community hospitably welcomed a delegation from the Chuhuivsk urban territorial community, led by the city mayor, Halyna Minaeva, as part of the National Project "Side by Side: United Communities.".
The purpose of this visit is to thank the Ilyinets community for its support and assistance, to discuss further steps of cooperation, and to participate in the opening of the traveling exhibition «Colors of Time: A City We Create Together» of works by the International Repin Plein Air, which takes place annually in Chuguiv, the city where the outstanding artist Ilya Repin was born. The exhibition features works by artists from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Switzerland.
At the Illinet City Council, the delegation was met by Illinet City Mayor Volodymyr Yashchuk, City Council Secretary Iryna Koltunova, First Deputy Mayor Oleg Dmytryk, Deputy Mayors Lyudmila Trokhymets and Oleksiy Signaevskyi, and heads of structural divisions.
Volodymyr Yashchuk spoke about the community, achievements, strategic directions of development, and current challenges. He shared his experience of how the Illinich region welcomed and provided shelter and assistance to internally displaced persons, and about the work of the humanitarian headquarters.
First Deputy Mayor Oleg Dmytryk presented the main areas of development of the Illinets community, its socio-economic potential, and investment and social projects being implemented.
During the conversation, Halyna Minaeva, in turn, spoke about the life of the Chuhuiv community in the first days and months of the full-scale invasion: what challenges the city had to face, how the community organized defense, support for the military and civilians, and how socio-economic life is gradually being restored despite all the difficulties.
Together, community leaders paid tribute to the feat of the fallen soldiers and laid flowers of honor at the Wall of Remembrance of those who fell for Ukraine.
The program of the delegation from the Chuguiv community also included a visit to the infectious disease department and the modern computed tomography room of the Illinet City Hospital of the city council, and an inspection of the civil defense protective structure at Illinet Lyceum No. 1, created for the safety of students and teachers.
The delegation also visited the waste sorting complex, where the director of the KP "Dobrobut" Denys Getman introduced the guests to the waste sorting process and the production of polymer-sand tiles. Mayor Volodymyr Yashchuk emphasized that the introduction of modern approaches in the field of ecology and waste management is one of the key tasks of the community.
The culmination of the visit was the opening of the exhibition of the 25th International Repin Plein Air "Colors of Time: A City We Create Together" in the city's House of Culture. 32 artists presented their works, which conveyed love for Ukraine, pain for losses, longing for peace, and hope for Victory.
The event was attended by honored guests from Chuguiv – Mayor Halyna Minaeva and Director of the Image Cultural Center Yana Vashchuk. The exhibition became a true celebration of art and a symbol of unity between the two communities.
This meeting once again confirmed: even in times of greatest challenges, culture, mutual respect and support are the bridge that connects people, preserves memory and helps to build the future together. The colors of the exhibition brought to life our common history - pain and strength, love and indomitability of the Ukrainian people.
