A delegation from the Sovereign Order of Malta attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC2026), which took place in Gdańsk on 25 to 26 June 2026, confirming the Order’s commitment to supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine and communities affected by the conflict.

The delegation, led by the Sovereign Order of Malta’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, Niels Lorijn, representing the Grand Master, included Mohammad El Hajj, Country Director of Malteser International in Ukraine, Oleksiy Poburko, Deputy Director of the Order of Malta Relief Organization in Ukraine, Rafał Szepietowski, Director for International Cooperation of the Order of Malta Relief Organization in Poland, and Sofiya Myhal, Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Ukraine.

After the conference opened, the delegation greeted Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko of Ukraine and Minister Paweł Kowal, Chairman of the Council for Cooperation with Ukraine. The inaugural ceremony was attended by numerous heads of state and government, as well as the heads of European institutions and international organizations, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.

During the meeting, Oleksiy Poburko spoke at the “Generation of Recovery: Youth as a Driver of Ukraine’s Recovery” panel, concerning the role of younger generations in the reconstruction process. He stressed that the Order of Malta has assisted over four million people in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, providing healthcare and psychosocial support, rehabilitation and prosthetic services, as well as support for underground schools, shelters and the most vulnerable families.

The Order of Malta has been present in the country for thirty-five years and its response to the emergency caused by the conflict represents the most impressive relief programme since World War II. The many different projects include the cross-border initiative “Warmth for Ukraine”, providing support to thousands of families affected by the attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure last winter.

Furthermore, there is a special focus on young people, with summer camps, exchange programs and volunteer initiatives aimed at fostering resilience, inclusion and active participation in the country’s reconstruction.