On November 8, 2023, a large charity evening for Ukraine took place under the name “Mainz understands Ukraine — and helps!” in the main hall of the late Renaissance Mainz Castle. It is where the most famous carnival meeting in Germany is held every year, “Mainz remains Mainz when it sings and laughs.”

The event took place under the patronage of Minister-President of the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate Malu Dreyer. The event was organized by the famous cabaret artist and musician Lars Reichow. Mainz Mayor Nino Haase, President of the Rhineland-Palatinate Parliament Hendrik Hering and many others were also present. The former ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, sent his greetings from Rio de Janeiro — “the most undiplomatic diplomat we had in Germany” (Lars Reichhöw).

Everyone had the opportunity to listen to essays about the role of Ukraine as an independent state in European society, the history of the Ukrainian nation, as well as the modern occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia. The string quartet “Lemberg-Quartett” played under the direction of Yurk Kusen with a vocal performance of Ukrainian works by Petro-Pavlo Tkalenko, Kirill Golovchenko showed his photos, the head of the Ukrainian society in Mainz, Viktoriya Jost, gave a speech.

Even before the event, people and companies donated €30,000. The total amount is still unknown, but it is estimated at €70,000-€100,000.

Thank you all for such a wonderful evening!