«Destroyed cities, schools, hospitals»: Lithuanian Foreign Minister is the first foreign diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister was the first diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv after the de-occupation. Photo: social network X

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys became the first foreign diplomat to personally visit Kherson after the de-occupation. Together with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, he visited Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

Both diplomats reported on the visit on their pages on the social network X.

According to Sybiha, this is not an official trip, but a support for the residents of Kherson who live under constant fire.

«This is a powerful sign of solidarity with our people in the face of constant Russian terror against Kherson», wrote Andrii Sybiha.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister was the first diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv after the de-occupation. Photo: social network X

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister was the first diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv after the de-occupation. Photo: social network X

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister was the first diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv after the de-occupation. Photo: social network X

During the trip, the ministers visited critical infrastructure facilities, an underground school, a maternity hospital, and paid tribute to the city's fallen defenders. They met with local residents and authorities to discuss the urgent needs of the region and the possibilities of expanding international assistance.

Kęstutis Budris did not hide his emotions: he called what he saw in Kherson and Mykolaiv «ruins with living people in them».

«Ruins, destroyed cities, schools, hospitals and broken lives. «A manhunt», intense shelling and drone attacks — hundreds of people killed and thousands wounded. This is the reality that the people of Kherson are living with today», the Lithuanian Foreign Minister said.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister was the first diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv after the de-occupation. Photo: social network X

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister was the first diplomat to visit Kherson and Mykolaiv after the de-occupation. Photo: social network X

According to him, the brutality demonstrated by the Russian army in Ukraine is unjustified. And if the crimes are not punished, it will only push for a new wave of violence.

«Wherever we went, we saw the inhuman cruelty and crimes of Russian aggression. And this is happening in the 21st century... All those responsible for crimes against humanity must be held accountable and brought to justice. Impunity only leads to even more aggression and cruelty», Kęstutis Budris emphasised.

Earlier, Lithuania announced that it would continue to support Ukraine in the defence sector by investing 20 million euros in the development of the Ukrainian defence industry and initiated the creation of joint production facilities for the production of weapons.