The Ukrainian capital has more than 60 sister cities around the world. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the number of such cities has increased significantly, because the world has become even more united for the sake of one goal. Learn more about what it means to be twin cities and what this cooperation is all about in wartime

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During almost a year of russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the civilized world united to achieve a single goal - to oppose the authoritarian and invasive regime of the dictator putin. During this time, many foreign cities pledged to support Ukrainian communities, and especially the capital, Kyiv. That is, relations between cities become twinned and are called sister cities. We tell you what the essence of this cooperation is and its features during the war.

The Ukrainian capital is twinned with 63 cities around the world. Among them are Hamburg, Marseille, Lyon, Oslo, Madrid, Rome, Warsaw, Mexico City, Paris and others.

Only from the beginning of the war, Kyiv signed agreements on partnership relations with such large cities as Hamburg, Madrid and Paris.

Why are twin cities needed?

Kyiv, as one of the European capitals, twinning with other cities gives an opportunity to exchange experience, students and specialists in various types of activities.

After concluding the relevant contract, the cities establish friendly relations. In addition, within the framework of twinning, cooperation takes place in such areas as education, ecology, tourism, economy, and housing and communal services reform.

What is the essence of fraternity during war?

For the most part, sister cities in difficult times, in particular during war, provide their fellow cities with various assistance, including "humanitarian assistance" and help with the accommodation of refugees.

For example, at the beginning of 2023, the sister city of Kyiv, Tampere, Finland, decided to transfer passenger buses to the Ukrainian capital, in which humanitarian aid collected for the capital by the city authorities also arrived.

Another sister city of Latvia, Riga, provided Kyiv with ten modern buses and humanitarian aid.

It is worth noting that some foreign cities help not only "humanitarian", but also financially. Recently, the authorities of Bergamo announced their readiness to act as one of the donors for the restoration of the communal infrastructure and social facilities of Bucha, which was significantly damaged at the hands of the russian invaders during the attack on Kyiv at the beginning of the war.

Kyiv also receives help in the communal sector. Thus, the Warsaw Metro (one of Kyiv's partner cities) announced its intention to transfer 60 cars to the Ukrainian capital.

The mayor of the capital, Vitalii Klitschko, noted that since the beginning of the full-scale war, a number of European capitals have provided assistance to the city. For example, from Prague, Kyiv received, in particular, 16 wagons of food, 400 heat guns and 10 generators. Budapest helped in the recovery of Ukrainian children on Lake Balaton and in the city of Tata, and also handed over a powerful generator.

We will remind you! Previously, the Visit Ukraine team handed over 1,000 seats to the Kyiv metro, which citizens can use during an air raid. At which stations you can get such seats, read here.