Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko held a working meeting with His Excellency Mr. Robert Müller, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Ukraine.

Olha Kuryshko briefed the Ambassador on the current situation in occupied Crimea and outlined the areas of work of the Mission and the Crimea Platform Office. The Permanent Representative emphasized Russia’s crimes in Crimea, including the militarization of children and youth, forced “passportization,” the spread of propaganda, and the rewriting of Crimea’s true history, as well as the destruction of cultural heritage. In particular, she spoke about the situation surrounding the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchysarai, the Lesia Ukrainka Museum in Yalta, and other so-called “restoration” activities carried out by the occupiers aimed at erasing Crimea’s authentic identity.

Olha Kuryshko also highlighted the importance of countering Russian propaganda on the topic of Crimea by describing the activities of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, which includes Crimean Tatar studies as a component aimed at spreading knowledge about Crimea and the Indigenous peoples of Ukraine. In the context of combating Russian myths, she also mentioned the international format of cooperation with representatives from countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America — the Crimea Global conference — which the Mission, in collaboration with civil society organizations, plans to hold again this year.

The discussion during the meeting also covered the Mission’s reintegration initiatives planned for implementation after the de-occupation of Crimea. The conversation focused on Ukraine’s priority steps following de-occupation and its economic recovery strategy.

Mr. Robert Müller reaffirmed Austria’s unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, emphasizing the importance of increased attention to Crimea and other temporarily occupied territories. He stressed that Austria, as an EU member state, advocates for upholding the principles of international law, including Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and supports the Ukrainian people’s pursuit of justice.

Thank you, Austria, for supporting Ukraine in various ways!