2022 in pictures: Ukraine crisis as seen from Romania, David Popovici's many wins & the return of events & festivals
From the impact of the war in Ukraine to the achievements of Romanian athletes and top events, we look back at some of the main moments of the year in photos.
Simona Fodor · Journalist
· Updated · 4 min read
From the impact of the war in Ukraine to the achievements of Romanian athletes and top events, we look back at some of the main moments of the year in photos.
As Russia invaded Ukraine in February, refugees fleeing the war started arriving in neighboring countries, including Romania. Three major border points were used: Sighetu Marmatiei, Siret (northeastern Romania) and Isaccea (eastern Romania). In Sighetu Marmatiei, in northern Romania, a wooden bridge over the river Tisza was turned into a "toys' bridge" after the local border police workers, and other locals brought toys and spread them across the bridge for Ukrainian child refugees.
In Bucharest, Gara de Nord train station, the city's largest one, became the main transit points for Ukrainians crossing the country. The state-owned railway operator CFR Călători offered free transportation to Ukrainians, many of whom departed for Budapest and further destinations in Europe.
The Bucharest Inspectorate for Emergency Situations set up a point for refugees, while various NGOs worked on site to provide various services.
The central pavilion of the exhibition and convention center Romexpo, in the northern part of the city, was turned this spring into an accommodation center for Ukrainian refugees. The center, which can host 2,000 people, was meant as a backup to the 4,300 places available in the city to refugees.
The center was also visited by then prince Charles, who met with refugees who fled the war in Romania's northern neighbor and saw the response of the local authorities, and of the various NGOs and volunteers working to support Ukrainian refugees.
The royal was in Romania to launch Europe's largest cross-border forest restoration project. The project involves more than 100 forest science and practice organizations in 20 countries and includes 12 large-scale forest restoration demonstration sites across Europe. One of the sites is located in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains and is funded by the prince's Circular Bioeconomy Alliance.
