As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues into its third year, European cities remain deeply committed to providing humanitarian aid and support to the Ukrainian people.
From the early days of the war, cities across Europe opened their doors to millions of Ukrainian refugees, offering assistance in the form of food, shelter, medical care, education and employment opportunities.
Crucially, these cities continue to play a critical role in providing ongoing aid and resources to the millions of Ukrainian people whose lives have been torn apart by the Russian aggression.
And, as the war persists, new initiatives are also being developed to aid in the recovery and reconstruction of shelled Ukrainian cities and regions, demonstrating the enduring solidarity of European cities.
Some examples of these crucial city-to-city partnerships, methods of sharing expertise, and critical aid and financial support are outlined below.
Oslo and Lviv: “We must do what we can”
The Norwegian city of Oslo has supported Ukraine in several ways since the war, donating medical equipment and funding, and welcoming many Ukrainian refugees.
Oslo decided to support the city of Lviv and its St Nicholas Children’s Hospital following a direct request from the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, during a visit to Oslo in spring 2024.
Lviv has become a humanitarian hub for people fleeing the war, and the hospitals linked to its Unbroken Rehabilitation Centre treat patients from all over Ukraine. Oslo’s support will help to increase the capacity of the children’s hospital, so that they are able to treat more patients.
“The need for equipment and funding is acute,” says Eirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of Oslo. “The funding from Oslo will be used to purchase equipment for the pediatric cardiology department. During my visit to Lviv in June, I saw the impressive work being done at the hospital with limited resources. Support from Oslo and other cities is highly important.”
After more than two years of war, the government of Oslo remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine, calling on other European cities and national governments to uphold their support.
“Lviv has almost exactly as many citizens as Oslo. Like us, they have beautiful buildings and citizens from all walks of life who dream of a peaceful and happy future. However, they have been forced to face tyranny and fight against it,” states Lae Solberg. “We must do what we can to support our Ukrainian colleagues.”
Tallinn and Vinnytsia: Supporting sustainable governance
Since 2022, the Estonian city of Tallinn has supported several Ukrainian cities in a range of ways, from sending ambulances and buses, to organising summer camps for children who have lost family members.
This year, Tallinn shared its expertise in sustainability governance with the city government of Vinnytsia. A special focus of this strategic support has been advancing Vinnytsia’s understanding of circular economy principles, and helping the Ukrainian city to prepare a plan for a new waste management system.
Following the outbreak of war, Vinnytsia stopped building new facilities and investing in local infrastructure, instead focusing on the safety of its people residents, supporting the Ukrainian army’s defensive capability, and caring for vulnerable citizens.
However, as the war continues, the city’s administration is developing partnerships that can help to strengthen its resilience and support local communities. Currently, Vinnytsia is home to almost 44,000 people who were forced to flee the war zone and frontline areas. Among them are almost 10,000 children.
“Most of our meetings take place online, but in May Tallinn hosted a delegation from Vinnytsia for a three-day event, including seminars, workshops and site visits,” says Krista Kampus, Head of the EU and International Relations, City of Tallinn.
She adds: “There is a lot of know-how and experience accumulated in European cities to effectively address problems such as waste management and the collection of biowaste most effectively. It is our duty to help develop Vinnytsia sustainably and to support Ukraine on their road to joining the EU.”
For the government of Vinnytsia, the partnerships formed with European cities are a crucial means of support that can benefit all parties involved. “Throughout the two years of war, Vinnytsia has officially established twinning and partnerships with four cities, Karlsruhe, Nancy, Munster and Ventspils,” said Serhii Matusiak, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia City Council.
“Now, this partnership with Tallinn is providing us with essential expertise in waste management, which is critical for our people’s health and well-being.
Vinnytsia is focused on gaining foreign expertise in the areas of infrastructure modernisation, mobility and the improvement of drinking water. And from their side, after ten years of war, Vinnytsia has a wealth of experience in medicine and highly complex surgeries, the development of the volunteer movement, and rapid migration.
“We believe this can be a mutually beneficial exchange of experience,” states Serhii Matusiak.
Lublin and Sumy: Reinforcing solidarity and support
The Polish city of Lublin has supported the Sumy region of Ukraine throughout the war. A formal twinning agreement between the cities was actually signed in back in 2013, with continued support and aid based on the existing agreement.
Lublin has provided essential supplies to many displaced people in Sumy, including food, medical assistance and clothing. The city has also provided generators to local communities, along with seeds for farmers in the region affected by the war.
“We want to help those in need and ensure that our support reaches the most vulnerable. This aid addresses the immediate needs of those affected by the war,” states Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin.
Beyond immediate needs, Lublin is involved in two important projects with the Sumy region, totalling nearly €2.5 Polish Zlotys, focused on directly addressing emergency wartime needs. These projects will construct four mobile shelters, purchase two medical ambulances with a mobile laboratory and a mobile clinic, and provide psychological support for people living in the Sumy region.
Beata Stepaniuk – Kuśmierzak, Lublin’s Deputy Mayor for Culture, Sports and Participation, explains: “Through our cultural exchanges, we are building bridges that strengthen our communities and promote solidarity.”
Lublin has also organised financial aid and technical support for projects aimed at improving local governance and community services in Sumy, with the goal being to “empower local authorities” in Sumy to rebuild and manage their communities effectively.
Overall, Lublin’s support for the Sumy area reflects a comprehensive approach to addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term reconstruction goals, reinforcing the solidarity between Poland and Ukraine.
Cologne and Dnipro: Strengthening cultural ties
The German city of Cologne is supporting the people of Dnipro through a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.
The ‘Dnipro Days’ events, from August – September 2024, highlighted this partnership, featuring cultural exchanges, workshops and social gatherings that underscored solidarity and collaboration between the two cities. Highlights included a gala concert, an art exhibition and a special Ukraine Day.
Dnipro was also recently recognised as Cologne’s newest twin city, with the addition of a banner celebrating this relationship at Cologne Bonn Airport. Areas covered under the twin city agreement including support relating to culture and arts, science and education, health, democracy, sustainability and social cohesion.
Welcoming this support, Borys Filatov, Mayor of Dnipro, states: “This agreement is not only about partnership and assistance to Dnipro. We want and know how to be friends.”
In autumn this year, the North-Rhine Westphalia-Ukraine Conference will take place in Cologne’s Botanical Garden, focused on the goal ‘For a common European future.’ Its goal will be to bring together representatives covering areas such as administration, economy, society and science to identify opportunities for cooperation.
For the local government of Dnipro, its partnerships with cities across the world have been crucial. The city receives assistance and cooperates in various areas with the European cities of Cologne, Helsinki, Milan, Prague, Vilnius, Lublin, Szczecin, Zilina and many other European cities.
Dnipro has been a crucial logistical and medical hub, accommodating refugees and supporting military efforts. Infrastructure has suffered due to missile strikes, which have damaged critical facilities like hospitals, schools, and residential buildings.
Such assistance is “invaluable” as it helps the city to rebuild damaged infrastructure, provide essential services to our citizens, and support the psychological well-being of those affected by the war.
Borys Filatov explains that support for Ukraine’s cities is critical as it directly impacts the ability to sustain communities and continue their resistance. It provides cities with the resources needed to maintain essential services, support their citizens and rebuild what has been destroyed.
“Together, we stand stronger, and your continued support is a beacon of hope for our future,” states Mayor Filatov.
Eurocities: Ongoing support for sustainable rebuilding
Along with its cities, Eurocities continues to take a central role in supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction, recovery and modernisation. In 2022, Eurocities set up a pilot project for the sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities, involving 34 Eurocities member cities and 11 Ukrainian cities. The project was run in close collaboration with the Association of Ukrainian Cities with the aim of understanding the needs and challenges of Ukrainian cities.
As a result of the project, Eurocities launched a new toolkit in May 2024, which is available in both English and Ukrainian. The toolkit presents Ukrainian cities with a range of practices from other European cities that can inspire the development of comprehensive recovery and development strategies.
How can we support the sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities?
At Ukraine Recovery Conference, our President Burkhard Jung, mayor of @StadtLeipzig shared Eurocities' urban development practices from cities across Europe.
Read our toolkit EN: https://t.co/826fu1iDTj #URC2024 pic.twitter.com/ILo106c9KQ
— Eurocities (@EUROCITIES) June 12, 2024
Building on the results of this pilot project, Eurocities launched its second phase, focusing on five Ukrainian cities: Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Pavlohrad, Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia. This phase is supporting the cities to prepare their local recovery plans, development strategies and investment proposals aligned with the EU standards. The project results will support the EU’s wider reconstruction efforts, providing input into ongoing and upcoming initiatives to support Ukraine at EU and international level.
Starting from May 2024, Eurocities is also leading the new four-year Sustainable Urban Net Zero Network for Ukraine (SUN4Ukraine) project. Funded under Horizon Europe, SUN4Ukraine will provide support to Ukrainian cities to become associated with the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission and to incorporate the climate neutrality targets into their reconstruction strategies and planning.
Most recently, SUN4Ukraine ran a call to Ukrainian municipalities to join the project, in particular as one of the ten flagship municipalities. The project will be providing direct technical guidance to help the flagship cities develop their climate neutrality plans, with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions data and reduction pathways, stakeholder engagement, governance and finance. It will facilitate partnerships between the ten flagship cities and the EU Mission Cities, including knowledge sharing events and study visits. Looking further ahead, a larger number of Ukrainian cities will be able to gain access to important knowledge and capacity building resources.
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If you would like to learn more about the support of Eurocities and its member cities for the people of Ukraine, visit the Ukraine page on the Eurocities Monitor 2024 website.
The photo accompanying this article is copyright Hitex Charity Fund and Sumy City Council.
