RIGA, March 4 (LETA) - Young basketball players from the war-torn Ukraine arrived in Valmiera last night, head of the municipality's public relations department Kristine Melece informed LETA.

A total of 24 people have arrived in Valmiera, including school-age children and several adults. All of them are staying in a municipal hotel. Another 24 young basketball players will arrive in Valmiera in the near future.

Currently, the social services of Valmiera Region are working on identifying the needs of the refugees, organizing meals, and others.

Melece also said that 18 interpreters and translators had responded to the municipality's request to help it communicate with the Ukrainian refugees, both remotely and in person.

The municipality is also considering the students' opportunities to continue their studies in Valmiera.

Increasingly more people are arriving in Valmiera Region from Ukraine where a Russian invasion began last Thursday. Currently refugees mainly settle with their relatives and friends.

As reported, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Latvia will take in over 200 hundred youth basketball players from Ukraine, Latvian specialist and the head of the Ukrainian national men's basketball team Ainars Bagatskis told Latvian Television earlier this week. Latvia will take in several youth basketball groups, and they will receive accommodation and be allowed to continue their trainings. According to the Latvian specialist, this will be sort of like a basketball camp for them. If these children cannot go to school, they must have something else to keep them occupied, said Bagatskis.