A two-day scientific and expert symposium entitled “Evacuation of Civilians in the Context of Armed Conflict: Ukraine’s Experience, Challenges for Europe” is currently taking place at the University of Rzeszów. The event brings together experts from Ukraine and Poland, along with representatives from academia, emergency services, and humanitarian organisations.

The symposium has been organised by the Institute of Political and Security Sciences at the University of Rzeszów, in cooperation with the Poland Helps Foundation and with the support of the Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Security and Resource Protection.

The organising committee includes:

• Dr Dominik Boratyn
• Dr Karol Piękoś
• Jerzy Jurczyński
• Sławomir Adamczyk

The symposium features experienced crisis management and rescue professionals from Ukraine, including:

• Bohdan Hladkykh – Director of the Department for Emergency Situations at Kharkiv City Council
• Serhii Bilous – Deputy Chief of Staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine
• Yulia Bilous – Emergency medicine doctor and coordinator of medical rescue operations in Kharkiv
• Jerzy Jurczyński – Humanitarian aid coordinator at the Poland Helps Foundation

The symposium is co-financed by the Polish Minister of Science under the “Regional Initiative of Excellence” programme for the years 2024–2027 (Project No. RID/SP/0011/2024/1, funding amount: PLN 17,172,501.00).