Azerbaijan supports Ukraine: Lyceum and polyclinic restored in war-torn Irpin PHOTO

On February 14, 2025, a delegation visited the restored infrastructure in Irpin, Ukraine, which was revitalized with the support of Azerbaijan.

The officials included the Acting Head of Kyiv Oblast Administration Mykola Kalashnik, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Seymur Mammadaliyev, SOCAR representatives in Ukraine, and local Irpin Municipality officials, Caliber.Az reports via local media agencies.

The visit began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the monument in the park named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, where the delegation honoured her memory. Following the ceremony, they toured two major facilities in Irpin that were renovated with Azerbaijani aid: the Zarifa Aliyeva Linguistic Lyceum and the city polyclinic.

The reconstruction of the war-damaged Zarifa Aliyeva Linguistic Lyceum, which cost 112 million hryvnias (approximately $2.6 million), has allowed over 2,000 students to resume their education. The second stage of the polyclinic's reconstruction is set to include the building of an anti-radiation shelter, along with the installation of a modern fire-fighting system and ventilation. Full completion of the polyclinic's renovation is expected by the end of March 2025.

Ambassador Mammadaliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan's humanitarian aid to Ukraine over the past three years has surpassed $40 million. "The Azerbaijani state is actively involved in the restoration of Irpin. During this time, more than 200 Ukrainian children, deprived of parental care, have received full medical and psychological rehabilitation in Azerbaijan," he said.

Mykola Kalashnik expressed his gratitude for Azerbaijan's continued assistance to Ukraine, especially in the fields of social and medical infrastructure. "A number of social and medical facilities are being restored and developed. Azerbaijan plans to restore four more such facilities. We thank Azerbaijan for its active participation in this humanitarian mission," Kalashnik remarked.

Irpin City Council Secretary Angela Makeyeva also acknowledged the critical importance of the restored facilities. “These two objects are very important for us. With the restoration of the lyceum, over 2,000 pupils were able to continue their education. We are deeply grateful to Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people for this support,” she concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova