The guest of Jarosław Szczepański was Bernard Błaszczuk, the mayor of Wyryki Municipality
They saw air combat over their own homes.
— "Since the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine all the time in the back of my head I have the thought that all this is happening 15 kilometres away" “Wyryki municipality mayor Bernard Błaszczuk says.
In September, residents survived something that the post-war past of the region did not remember: drones flew over the commune and 1 of them destroyed the home in Wyryki-Wola.
— “The villagers saw air combat in the sky. They saw the confusion, they heard the bang. 1 of the dwellings survived only due to the fact that she came down on the ground floor.” “Błaszczuk reports.
The mayor admits that in the first hours after the incidental he received ‘four more air combat calls at another locations of the municipality’. He drove around the area himself, checking for further damage.
“After planet War II, no 1 has done specified procedures”
The municipality had to face something that was not regulated.
— “We have stepped on paths. After planet War II, we are the first commune to have undergone reconstruction procedures of a home destroyed by war” — says the mayor.
The biggest problem was the financial rules: the grant must be settled in the same year it was awarded.
— “If reconstruction begins in October, it must be settled by the end of December. This is absurd, but that is the rules” “ He explains.
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Disinformation: “Before the fact puts on shoes...”
The mayor emphasizes that from the beginning he had to fight not only procedures, but besides fake news waves.
— "The media said the storm broke the roof. Wherever I went, I was asked, ‘ And there was no hurricane? ’’ “remembers.
— “Before the fact puts on his shoes, the lie will come to the world” — adds, quoting an old saying that proved painfully applicable in this situation.
Demographic: ‘Not a single kid may be born in a fewer years’
The municipality present has 2,300 inhabitants. In 2040, they're expected to be... 1500.
— "It's scary. In 2016, there were 130 scholarship applications. This year — 30’ — says the mayor.
The most symbolic image of the crisis?
— "We had 3 eighth graders in 2 schools. Three. Throughout the municipality’ “ He stresses.
The mayor does not hide that in the coming years there may be a situation where “No kid will be born in the municipality throughout the year”.
Schools: “We keep buildings filled in a quarter”
The municipality has 2 schools 10 km away. Pupils are dramatically small.
— “We spend PLN 39 000 on 1 student. In a akin municipality, 17,000. In the city — two, 3 thousand” “ Blaszczuk says.
The plan involves a gradual merger of schools, but social opposition is enormous.
— “School in the countryside is simply a symbol of life. Closing the building is simply a signal for residents that the village is dying” “ He explains.
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Library absurdity: “Two years no 1 rented a single book”
One of the most grotesque episodes was the past of the library branch in Chorosta.
— "No 1 rented a book there for 2 years. And the building was heated, maintained and... there was nothing else to do in it.” “ The mayor says.
Eventually, the branch was liquidated, and the building created a light area and a reactivated TSO unit.
The community reacts: rescue dogs, shooting range, safety forum
Despite the difficulties, residents search ways to live normally.
The mayor praises the activity of the Association of Polish Rescue Dogs:
— "This is 1 of the fewer specified groups in Poland. Dogs are trained to search for missing persons. We support them as we can”.
The municipality besides co-organises the east safety Forum of Poland, where experts, services and representatives of the MON appear.
‘Flying may, unless it falls’
At the end of the conversation, the mayor wishes the people of peace:
— “Let's hope nothing flies over our heads... but what should. It can fly, as long as it doesn't fall and as long as it's not foreign” “He says with a bitter smile.
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