The Dispatch

Over 450,000 persons entered Poland since Ukraine invasion started, More than 113,000 entered Romania

WARSAW, March 2 (Reuters) - Over 450,000 people entered Poland from Ukraine since a Russian invasion of the country started last Thursday, Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told private Radio…

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Remember Ukrainians in shelters, Pope says; thanks Poland for refugee help

VATICAN CITY, March 2 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday asked people around the world to remember Ukrainians in underground shelters seeking protection from bombardments and thanked Poland for taking…

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Polish PM to discuss EU membership for Ukraine with European Commission’s von der Leyen

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will discuss support for Ukraine joining the European Union with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Tuesday, a…

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EU says 400,000 refugees from Ukraine so far, millions expected

Feb 28 (Reuters) - At least 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered EU territory so far, and the bloc needs to prepare for millions of arrivals, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said…

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Austrian watchdog imposes moratorium at Sberbank Europe

VIENNA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA) has imposed a moratorium on Sberbank Europe AG, a unit of Russia's Sberbank, with immediate effect until March 1, 2022, 11:59 pm,…

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Czech, Slovak governments increase military aid to Ukraine

PRAGUE, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Czech government on Sunday increased military aid to Ukraine as it battles Russian troops, backing an additional package worth 400 million crowns ($18.23 million), while Slovakia…

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115,000 Ukrainians arrive in Poland – More than 43,000 entered Romania since Russian invasion

Reuters/DPA - Some 115,000 people seeking refuge from Russia's war on Ukraine have reached Poland, the government said on Saturday, as countries in eastern Europe prepared to welcome people fleeing Moscow's attacks. More than…

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Poland steps up help and solidarity with Ukrainian population

Michał Dworczyk, a top aide to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, told reporters that “everyone escaping the war will be received in Poland.” He said: “Everyone seeking help in Poland will be…

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Poland sees more cyberattacks on government servers

WARSAW, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The computer servers of the Polish government and the national system for payment clearing have experienced more cyberattacks in recent days, a government official in…

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Almost 11,000 Ukrainians entered Romania on first day of Russian invasion as people flee war into central Europe

BUCHAREST, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A total of 10,624 Ukrainians entered Romania through its six border checkpoints on Thursday as Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air, Romanian Interior Minister Lucian…

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Siren goes off in Polish town on border with Ukraine – Reuters witness

MEDYKA, Poland, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A siren went off on Thursday in the Polish town of Medyka, a border crossing with Ukraine, a Reuters witness said. After weeks of denying plans…

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Germany ready ‘for all scenarios’ in case of refugee influx from Ukraine

BERLIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Germany is prepared for all scenarios in case of a refugee influx from Ukraine and will help other neighbouring countries including Poland in case of large-scale refugee…

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Czechs to propose EU tightens passport rules for Russians

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will ask European Union partners to only allow entry into the border control-free Schengen area to Russians who hold biometric passports, Czech Interior Minister…

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Slovakia to lift almost all remaining Covid-19 restrictions

The government of Slovakia has decided on the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions, meaning that almost all measures will be lifted in the country from Saturday. From that day, sporting…

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Poland and Lithuania say Ukraine deserves EU candidate status due to ‘current security challenges’

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Ukraine deserves European Union candidate status, and Poland and Lithuania will support it in this goal, the presidents of the two countries said in a joint declaration…

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Poland will remove most COVID restrictions – PM

WARSAW, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Poland will remove most COVID-19 restrictions from March 1, while keeping the obligation to wear face masks, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Wednesday. "After medical consultations and…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Izdebki, Poland

An aerial picture shows the district road No. 2036, which runs among the snow-covered fields in the village Izdebki, southeastern Poland. Photo - EPA-EFE/DAREK DELMANOWICZ

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Despite border fence, Hungary is route of hope for migrants to the West

KUBEKHAZA, Hungary/RABE, Serbia (Reuters) - Portraying Hungary as a border fortress against illegal migration into Europe is a central theme of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close-fought campaign for re-election on…

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Ukrainian veterans in Poland prepare to re-enlist as Russia tensions mount

WROCLAW, Poland (Reuters) - Dmytro Dovzhenko, 40, has been living in Poland with his wife and two children since 2019, running a business handling anything from hairdressing to beauty to…

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Photo Story: Jacek Malczewski art exhibition Opens in Krakow

A Self-Portrait with gorgons by the artist Jacek Malczewski is on display in the exhibition 'Romantic Jacek Malczewski' during the show's opening ceremony at the National Museum in Krakow, southern…

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US announces Abrams tanks for Poland as tensions with Russia escalate

WARSAW, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday the planned sale of 250 Abrams tanks to Poland, as Washington moves to strengthen the defenses of a key…

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Photo Story: Strong winds cause damage in Poland

A damaged tree after strong winds in Dobrzyca village, west-central Poland. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management issued a warning concerning strong winds across Poland. Via EPA-EFE/TOMASZ WOJTASIK

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German Eurofighters reach Romania for NATO missions amid Ukraine crisis

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - German Air Force Eurofighters arrived at a military air base in eastern Romania on Thursday as part of a deployment to NATO's eastern flanks amid a Russian…

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‘Prepared for the worst’: Polish PM braces for Ukrainian refugees

WARSAW, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Poland is planning for a possible influx of refugees from Ukraine in case of a Russian invasion, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday, despite…

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Austria to lift most COVID-19 restrictions by March 5

VIENNA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Austria will lift most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions by March 5, including scrapping an earlier closing time of midnight for bars and restaurants and allowing night…

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Poland raises alert against cyber attacks

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland has alerted the security services and public administration against threats in cyberspace, the Government Centre for Security said, just hours after Ukraine reported its defence ministry and two…

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Orban’s Fidesz leads opposition by two points ahead of Hungarian April election

Hungary's governing Fidesz party gained a two-point lead this month over the united opposition in the campaign for the April 3 election, according to an opinion poll by Zavecz Research…

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Poland preparing for potential influx of Ukrainian refugees – Interior Minister

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is preparing for "various scenarios" for a possible influx of refugees if Russia were to attack Ukraine, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Sunday. Washington has said Russia,…

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Germany and Austria told to curb boom in home prices

Germany and Austria should curb a boom in house prices by setting caps on mortgages and forcing banks to build up more capital, the European Union's financial stability watchdog said.…

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UPDATED: U.S. to send 3,000 additional troops to Poland, officials say

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The United States will send 3,000 additional troops to Poland, Poland's Defence Minister said late on Friday, confirming an earlier Reuters report, as Russia held…

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Polish ruling party presents bill to end rule of law dispute with EU

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's ruling nationalists proposed legislation aiming to ease a dispute with the European Union over judiciary independence and unlock access to EU funds. Last October, the EU's…

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UPDATED: NATO welcomes more U.S. forces to Romania, says reinforcing in east

CONSTANTA, Romania, Feb 11 (Reuters) - NATO will continue to reinforce its eastern flank amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border but will also consider a longer-term presence in…

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Slovenia to hold April 24 parliamentary vote

Slovenia’s president formally scheduled a parliamentary election for April 24. The vote will test the popularity of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa amid political divisions in the small European Union…

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Updated: “Beginning of the end”: upbeat Poland cuts COVID isolation

WARSAW, Feb 9 (Reuters) - An end to the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight, the Polish health minister said on Wednesday, as he announced a cut to the isolation period…

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Romanian flag carrier Tarom to slash staff by 200

Romanian state-owned airline Tarom said it is moving forward with the restructuring, and, since the beginning of this year, more than 200 employees have been laid off. The personnel currently…

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Planes bring U.S. troops to Poland, with most expected on Monday

RZESZOW, Poland (Reuters) - Two U.S. military planes could be seen landing at a Polish airport on Monday morning and more were expected later in the day, bringing the bulk…

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First U.S. reinforcement troops arrive in Poland, more expected

RZESZOW, Poland (Reuters) - The first U.S. troops reinforcing NATO allies in Eastern Europe amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border arrived on Saturday at Rzeszow military base in…

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Austria’s upper house backs COVID vaccine mandate

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's upper house of parliament on Thursday passed a bill to make coronavirus vaccines compulsory for adults, bringing the European Union's first such sweeping vaccine mandate a…

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Czech government plans to end COVID passes, easing measures for unvaccinated

PRAGUE, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will stop requiring COVID passes for entry to restaurants and other service or entertainment venues starting next week, opening them up to…

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UPDATED: Polish President proposes bill to end rule of law row with EU

WARSAW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday submitted legislation to dismantle a controversial disciplinary chamber for judges, hoping it would allow the government to end a…

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Photo Story: Storm causes damage in in Orzechowo near Ustka in Poland

A view of the destroyed cliff in Orzechowo near Ustka, Poland. The cliff is devastated due to strong winds and a storm on the Baltic Sea raging for several days,…

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Poland’s Covid death toll is now more than 105,000

Poland detected 56,051 fresh Covid infections in the past 24 hours, Polskie Radio reports, an 83% surge on the 30,588 cases confirmed on Wednesday two weeks ago. That’s near Poland’s…

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Slovakia posts record daily rise in COVID cases

PRAGUE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Slovakia on Wednesday reported over 20,000 new COVID-19 infections in one day for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started, hit like others in…

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Czech Republic’s daily tally of COVID cases at record

PRAGUE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic reported 57,195 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, its highest daily tally since the coronavirus pandemic started, amid the spread of the Omicron…

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Hungary to host global right-wing populists in support of PM Orban

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary will in March host right-wing participants from the United States and Europe including the leader of Spain’s Vox party at a conference linked to U.S. conservatives,…

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Polish-Belarus border wall threatens primeval forest, environmentalists say

Poland should delay construction of a new barrier through the primeval Bialowieza forest that straddles its border with Belarus until it can prove that it will not harm local wildlife,…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Polana, Poland

Snow-covered trees by the road near Polana village, in the Bieszczady Mountains, south-eastern Poland. Via EPA-EFE/Darek Delmanowicz POLAND OUT

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Austria to further ease COVID restrictions

ZURICH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Austria will begin easing COVID-19 related restrictions next week, Chancellor Karl Nehammer told a news conference on Saturday, allowing shops and restaurants to remain open…

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Poland reports new daily record of COVID cases

WARSAW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Poland reported a record 57,659 new daily COVID-19 infections on Thursday, the health ministry said, as the Omicron variant takes hold. Authorities have said the…

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Romania is ready to host increased NATO troops if needed

Romania is in talks with the United States and France over ways to enhance their troop count in the country and was ready to host an increased NATO military presence,…

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Poland hits COVID case record, as Eastern Europe battles surge

WARSAW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania all hit their highest infection rates of the pandemic on Wednesday, driven by the highly transmissible Omicron…

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Romania sees jump in daily COVID-19 cases to record high 34,255

BUCHAREST, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The number of new coronavirus infections in Romania rose by a record high 34,255 in the past 24 hours, government data showed on Wednesday, but…

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EU considering freezing EU funds for Hungary and Poland over rule of law breaches

The European Commission could propose freezing European Union structural funds for Hungary and Poland over concerns for the rule of law before a Hungarian parliamentary election on April 3, Budget…

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Hungary opposition leader flags tax cuts for poor as Orban’s party gains ground

Hungary's opposition plans to lower the tax burden on the poor while ensuring fiscal discipline to put the country on track to adopting the euro should a six-party alliance win…

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One person killed, two hurt in Budapest hospital fire

BUDAPEST, Jan 23 (Reuters) - One person has died and two people are being treated for smoke inhalation after a blaze swept through a hospital in Budapest early on Sunday,…

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Former Polish president, Solidarity leader Walesa sick with COVID

Lech Walesa, the former Polish president and Solidarity trade union leader who played a leading role in the fall of Communism, has the coronavirus, he said. Originally a shipyard electrician…

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No vax, no meal: Some Polish restaurants impose entry curbs amid criticism of light-touch rules

Warsaw restaurateur Marcin Wojtasik says he is willing to face bad reviews from anti-vaxxers to help protect his staff from COVID-19 by admitting only vaccinated customers. "It was a very…

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