On 15 January, a working meeting was held at the Mission between Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Australia to Ukraine, Mr Paul Lehmann.

The Permanent Representative expressed her gratitude to Australia for its substantial support for Ukraine across various areas, including the provision of financial, humanitarian, and military assistance, as well as the imposition of sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Olha Kuryshko also presented the Mission’s key areas of activity and outlined plans for 2026, including preparations for activities dedicated to 26 February — the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea. She further briefed the Ambassador on the current situation in temporarily occupied Crimea, focusing on systemic human rights violations, religious persecution, the destruction of cultural heritage sites, and the use of Crimea as a hub for the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children.

She highlighted the systematic militarisation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children and youth under occupation, in particular through the imposition of military ideology by the occupying administration and the involvement of children in militarised structures such as “Yunarmiya” and so-called cadet classes. The parties also discussed Russia’s efforts to legitimise the occupation of Crimea through the involvement of foreign nationals and the importance of countering such attempts.

The Ambassador emphasised that, despite Australia’s geographical distance, its solidarity with Ukraine and support for the Ukrainian people’s right to independence remain unwavering.

We thank Australia for its consistent support of our state during these challenging times.