The businessman vacated an apartment building in the center of Prague for Ukrainian refugees
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It is clear to Ivo Rosol that he does not like to talk about himself – let alone enjoy the story of how he helps others. In the end, he talks. “My wife and I just said we had to do something. We don’t have an emergency, so we took it for granted, “he explains.
Rosol sold a stake in a large IT company a few years ago, today it owns, for example, a large apartment building in Prague-Smíchov. Through another company owned by a friend, a Ukrainian businessman, he rented the local apartments to foreigners.
Now this earnings regret and moved into the apartments of several dozen Ukrainian refugees. “I didn’t hesitate when the friend called me. Yes – in fact, we both lose money. But that’s something I don’t deal with now, “says Rosol.
A bit paradoxically, there is an apartment house on Kinský Square, where during communism the well-known tank number 23 stood on a stone pedestal – an expression of gratitude for the liberation of Prague by the Soviet army.
About 60 Ukrainian women and children now live in the house, some of the apartment buildings are still rented to foreigners to earn energy and other fees. The apartments are fully equipped, including kitchenware.
According to Rosola, Ukrainians now do not need anything special, in fact ordinary food or hygiene items. Employees of the former Rosol’s company brought them two full cars on Friday. Two families said straight away that I didn’t want anything. “I was quite nice to that,” the businessman admits, saying he has not yet decided how long the Ukrainians will be able to stay with him.
“If the war lasts a long time, and I’m afraid it won’t end quickly, of course I’ll have to find housing and work. But it remains to be seen. It is also a question of whether those people will have a place to return after the war, “he thinks.
Rosol says he did not believe in the outbreak of open fighting in Ukraine two weeks ago: “I rather expected Putin to scare the Ukrainians into a minor conflict. Definitely not that it will be so bloody. “