IT Arena, the largest technology event in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, was organized in Lviv over the weekend. The Finns who took part in the event were forced into a bomb shelter.
HVAC Queues hundreds of meters long are snaking through the center of Lviv, as thousands of people have gathered for the big IT Arena technology and startup event on a sunny autumn day.
At one of the venues, a Finn walks by by chance Matti Lattu. He says that in addition to him, about thirty other Finns have arrived.
– This has been a great event, a lot of contacts and you can see that a lot of all kinds are being done here and many things are moving forward quickly, says Lattu, CEO of the software company ProApp Oy.
The Finns are preparing for reconstruction
Finns are guided in front of the Lviv Opera House Jussi Muurikainenwhich distributes festival passes to participants. He has organized a Bridge of Trust event for Finns in connection with “Eastern European Slush”, which is intended to help Finns network in Ukraine.
One of Muurikainen’s goals is to prepare companies for the reconstruction work in Ukraine.
– It’s too late to come here and shout when the war is over and all the opportunists are attacking. We think that the real Helpers are here now, says Muurikainen.
This year, according to Muurikainen, there was a long line of participants, although many canceled their participation after Russia attacked the center of Lviv about a month ago. Among others, the mother and children of a family of four died in the attack.
However, it was not easy to get Finnish companies to attend.
– People may not realize that Western Ukraine is a bit different than the front elsewhere. But then we got the ball rolling and now there are thirty partners here, says Muurikainen.
An air raid interrupted the event
The event is being jointly organized by, among others, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Finnish Confederation of Business.
On Friday, the event was interrupted for about three hours by an air raid warning. The experience in a bomb shelter was new for many Finns.
– Yes, maybe this will make some more cautious. On the other hand, this also awakens a desire to help and a sense of champ for many that they won’t give up, even though they had to protect themselves here a bit, CEO Matti Lattu says.
Also project manager of the Defense Forces Markus Sandelin attended the event. He says that there is currently a lot of information in Ukraine about, among other things, the psychological effects of war on fighting ability. Sandelin emphasizes that information is not normally made available directly to the defense forces.
– For example, today I had the opportunity to meet researchers from Ukrainian universities who use the examination of the ECG curve of the heart to identify mental health in large groups, Sandelin says.
Many are in Ukraine for the first time
One of Ukraine’s national heroes came to speak at the event organized for Finns, Serhiy Prytula. Prytula is a famous TV personality and former comedian who in 2020 founded a foundation bearing his own name. It has collected tens of millions of euros for the Ukrainian army.
Watch the video below to see how Prytula talks about the importance of Finns to Ukraine:
Many Finns say that they have come to Ukraine for the first time. The trip was behind a big decision for many. Participant in the event Hannele Mennala says that contrasts of life are present in Lviv.
– It was surprising that life in Lviv seems quite normal in the street view. Sometimes the church bells ring and people who died on the front are transported in funeral processions. It is touching and people show respect to the deceased with their hands on their hearts. Then, on the same day, wedding parties have been seen in the hotel lobby, Hannele Mennala says.