ZAGREB, 6 Feb (Hina) – Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman welcomed around 30 Ukrainian children in Zagreb on Friday for mine-risk education as part of the Croatia Helps NGO’s project “Vratimo Еѕivot bez mina!” (Let’s Bring Life Back Without Mines!), which has so far hosted over 800 children from Ukraine.

The minister said it was an honour to host the children and emphasised the importance of making them feel welcome. Many have lost their fathers due to the Russian invasion. Croatia cannot replace them but can offer gestures of humanity and lasting childhood memories, he added.

Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Kyrylich thanked Croatia for its “big heart” and “true friendship”, praising Croatia’s immediate support for Ukraine and highlighting the country’s generosity.

He presented the NGO’s president, Đurđa Adlešić, with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s “Amber Heart” award for her long-term work hosting Ukrainian children.  She previously helped organise programmes for children from Syria, Libya and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The children, staying in Croatia for about ten days, receive mine-risk and first aid training, psychological support and other educational activities, Adlešić said.