The delegation also included:

• Ambassador Andrea Rauber Saxer, Delegate of the Federal Council for Trade Agreements, Head of Bilateral Economic Relations, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs;

• Alberto Hernandez, Adviser for Ukraine, SECO;

• Philippe Strub, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland;

• representatives of the embassy and Swiss business.

As part of the visit, the delegation, accompanied by Mayor Serhii Morhunov, visited key economic development sites in Vinnytsia: industrial parks on Nemyrovske Shose and the Krystal Innovation and Technology Park.

During the meeting, Vinnytsia City Council presented its approaches to economic development, creating conditions for investors, implementing infrastructure projects, and prospects for Ukrainian-Swiss cooperation in industry, technology, and support for small and medium-sized businesses.

This level of representation is exceptional for regional visits and demonstrates interest in the community's potential and recognition of Vinnytsia as a reliable partner for international cooperation.

Mayor Serhii Morhunov thanked the delegation for their attention to Vinnytsia and emphasized that the city would continue to work systematically to improve the business climate, develop industrial parks and the Krystal Innovation and Technology Park, and attract new investments to ensure economic growth and create new jobs.

“We talked about the economic climate, the potential for new investments and job creation. The context of the war makes such visits even more valuable. Switzerland is one of the most successful economies in Europe. It is a country that has been supporting Vinnytsia in important areas for many years. These include infrastructure projects, transport and mobility development, and strengthening local government. And even during a full-scale war, this support does not stop. “Today's visit is another international recognition for Vinnytsia,” said Serhii Morhunov, ”And the fact that the Swiss government is considering cooperation with our community is an important assessment of our systematic work in economic development and the results of previous cooperation with Switzerland in our local projects.”

‘These are three powerful generators that will ensure continuous operation of both kindergartens and the dormitory during possible power outages. Such alternative power sources allow our children to study without interference, even in the event of a blackout, and internally displaced persons to live comfortably and use all the necessary services,’ said Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Education Department.

This is not the first time the community has received such support from partner cities. Over the past year, Vinnytsia has already received generators for schools, kindergartens and hospitals, which is another important step towards strengthening energy resilience.

‘This used to be a school building, but with the outbreak of war, we rebuilt it for temporary accommodation for families and allocated this building for temporary accommodation for families who lost their homes due to russian aggression. Today, more than 80 people live here. So, in case of an emergency power outage, they will be provided with electricity,’ says Mykhailo Bevkh, director of Vinnytsia Higher Vocational School No. 11. ’We are grateful to our sister city because this generator is a huge support for the functioning of the building and the comfortable living of internally displaced people.

The kindergartens to which the generators were delivered say they will ensure uninterrupted operation of the kitchen.

Our partners' concern for the residents of Vinnytsia is not just a manifestation of friendship, but also a sign of true solidarity. Such initiatives make the community stronger and its residents more secure. Joint efforts help to create conditions under which life in the city remains comfortable and safe even in difficult circumstances.

Doctors say that these functional beds are of very high quality and are needed by patients. They consist of elements that can be lowered and raised for the patient's convenience. In addition, these beds are quite new - they were manufactured in 2017.

All this aid will be distributed to medical institutions in Vinnytsia based on their needs.

‘This is not the first aid for Vinnytsia's healthcare facilities that we have received from our sister cities and partners. We distribute everything received to our hospitals so that medical furniture, rehabilitation equipment and medical supplies can serve our doctors and patients. We are grateful to our friends and partners from abroad for their support,’ said Oleksandr Shysh, Director of the Healthcare Department.

Another part of the aid will be used for the needs of the Red Cross in Vinnytsia and for doctors in the frontline areas.

Serhii Morhunov noted that the humanitarian aid received by the community earlier contained many important items: modular kitchens for the steadfastness centres, furniture for educational institutions and their shelters, equipment for hospitals and a rehabilitation centre, machinery and vehicles for utilities, rescuers and a blood transfusion station.

This support continues today. Powerful generators ensure that children can study non-stop, even in the face of possible power cuts.

‘Today's assistance from our friends is the first tranche, and in the near future three more educational institutions will receive generators of similar capacity,’ said Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Education Department of Vinnytsia City Council, ‘This is an extremely important charitable donation from caring people from our partner city of Münster. Thanks to these two generators, each of which has a capacity of 80 kW, we will be able to ensure a stable educational process, even in the event of power outages. Münster has repeatedly demonstrated its care and support for our community, and we are sincerely grateful for this contribution to Vinnytsia education.’

Earlier, thanks to the charitable initiatives of Münster residents, Vinnytsia schools received furniture and other necessary equipment.

‘We have a generator that powers the temporary shelter. It has a capacity of 24 kW, and this is not enough to fully organise the educational process in the school. The school is also the location of the Point of Invincibility, so the generator will provide support to the community if needed,’ says Snizhana Ostapchuk, principal of Lyceum No. 26.

Powerful equipment from German sponsors will ensure the stable operation of the educational institution and the Point of Invincibility, says Mykola Bartiuk, director of Lyceum No. 29.

‘Previously, when the power went out, a 24 kW generator was only enough to provide electricity for one floor. Now, with the new powerful equipment, the whole school will be able to operate, which is very important for the modern educational process.

We are sincerely grateful to the representatives of the Vinnytsia and Münster Rotary Clubs, our German friends, for this contribution to the future of our children,’ said Mykola Bartiuk, principal of Lyceum No. 29.

Education is a light that cannot be extinguished even in the darkest of times. And thanks to the support of sister cities and partners, it will burn even brighter.

In her turn, Antonella Valmorbida assured of further support and cooperation with Vinnytsia and the region. She also announced the launch of the ALDA office in Vinnytsia region. The Local Democracy Agency in Vinnytsia region, LDA Vinnytsia, will become a bridge between the organization and the communities of the region. The acting head of the office is Olha Oliinyk, who also took part in the meeting. The relevant documents for the official agreement on the start of the local branch are currently being prepared.

'We want to demonstrate our solidarity in these difficult times for you. Our organization continues to work in Ukraine, despite everything. We are expanding our work in the Vinnytsia region. At different stages of development, we now have five local democracy agencies in Ukraine, 33 member organizations in Ukraine, 33 partner organizations from the EU that support our agencies in Ukraine. And there are even more partners outside this network. We have planned for 2025 to open even more local democracy agencies in Ukraine and to engage stakeholders,' said Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA (European Association of Local Democracy).

Representatives of Vinnytsia and Vinnytsia region spoke about community development in the difficult times of full-scale invasion. In particular, they focused on the main priorities that Vinnytsia and the region are currently living by: Security and Defense, Resilience, and Care.

'Thank you for your support and joint work. Vinnytsia has been a member of the Local Democracy Association since 2023. Speaking of 2025, we are focusing on updating strategic documents in the city, because we now have new conditions and a new context. We also pay attention to restoration: we are talking about critical infrastructure, social services, and humanitarian services. Vinnytsia is also the first Ukrainian city to adopt the Green Deal, which we continue to work on. In addition, we build partnership bridges between municipalities in the region and foreign cities and communities. These multi-level ties make municipalities stronger,' said Deputy Mayor Vladyslav Skalskyy.

Halyna Yakubovych added: 'The coordination and navigation that ALDA has done in cooperation with Dijon in the field of medicine gives us connections that are very important for our institutions. We see that this partnership is building to the benefit of both: our city and Dijon.'

Antonella Valmorbida also participated in a roundtable discussion entitled “Democracy in Action: Combining the Efforts of Communities, Civil Society, Youth and Partners.” The participants discussed the role of local governments in supporting democratic processes during martial law in Vinnytsia region, youth involvement in decision-making, civil society practices in developing democratic communities, as well as lessons learned from partners and the role of international partnership for Ukrainian communities.

The Ukrainian delegation was represented by mayors and business representatives from Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and other cities and regions of Ukraine.

The work of both sides started with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Madrid and the Ukrainian Civic Club.

As part of this visit, the participants of the trade mission attended the Ukraine-Spain Economic Recovery Forum, pitch sessions for investment projects, individual B2B meetings, and working visits to Spanish companies. The forum became a platform for discussing the prospects for further cooperation between Ukrainian communities and international partners. Among other things, they discussed such key areas of development as energy, infrastructure, strategic investments, humanitarian aid, and the agricultural sector.

During one of the panel discussions, Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov presented the initiatives that Vinnytsia is ready to implement, including with the assistance of foreign partners, and shared the experience of our community's cooperation with European cities.

‘We are here to get new opportunities for the city: to negotiate support, find partners, and show that Ukrainian cities are open for business today. Because the economy must work even during the war. People need it. Particular attention was paid to the community-to-community partnership. The experience of Vinnytsia's cooperation with sister cities and partners confirms that horizontal ties work effectively. Therefore, we continue to expand such interaction,’ said Serhii Morhunov.

According to him, Vinnytsia, like other Ukrainian cities where there are no active hostilities, is involved in supporting the country's economic sector, the stability of which is crucial for defence capability. That is why the community is creating the right conditions for investors to develop production here and become more competitive. Together with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, they invited Spanish business to Vinnytsia.

At the same time, the delegates had the opportunity to get acquainted with modern technological solutions from companies in the Murcia region, which are part of the Caetra programme, a regional government initiative focused on dual-use technologies used in defence and security, as well as in civilian life. The President of Murcia, José Ballesta, told the guests about the experience of addressing the challenges of the Murcia government in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquakes in Lorca. And the President of the Murcia region, Fernando López Miras, noted that when the time comes for recovery and peace, Europe will be with Ukraine.

Among the best Spanish practices, Vinnytsia representatives focused on the development of renewable energy, innovative technologies, artificial intelligence and cooperation between business and government - these are the areas that, according to Serhii Morhunov, will help our community become economically stronger.

He and other delegates from Ukraine attended a meeting at the office of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE). According to him, this is the largest association that represents the interests of entrepreneurs before the government, trade unions, and international organisations.

‘We discussed the involvement of companies in projects in Ukrainian communities. There are some challenges. At the intergovernmental level, sovereign guarantee mechanisms for financing such initiatives are not regulated. But representatives from both sides are ready to engage in dialogue and consider potential opportunities for cooperation. Spanish business is strong in engineering, project management, energy, and infrastructure. This is where our interests coincide. Therefore, we agreed with CEOE on extensive communication with the Embassy of Ukraine in Spain to organise a trade mission,’ added Serhii Morhunov.

The members of the Ukrainian Mayors Club also visited the High Technology Centre of the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia, which is considered an important centre of the region's technological ecosystem. ‘More than 22 thousand students, campuses in Murcia, Cartagena, Madrid and outside Spain. The President of the University Foundation, María Dolores García Mascarell, is very interested in expanding international cooperation and personally welcomed the Ukrainian delegation. The most pleasant thing was the fact that our resident of Vinnytsia, Maryna Marchuk, is responsible for the international development of the university!’ said Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia Vladyslav Skalskyy.

Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov announced the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Club of Mayors of Ukraine and the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Madrid. The agreement envisages the implementation of joint projects in various fields related to infrastructure and urban planning, humanitarian aid, education, culture and technology, with a focus on the restoration and support of Ukrainian communities affected by the war.

‘This opens up new horizons of cooperation, in particular, we are interested in the Spanish experience in municipal governance and administrative services, as well as the implementation of joint business, cultural, scientific and educational initiatives,’ said Serhii Morhunov.

During the event, he presented to his Spanish colleagues the development potential of Vinnytsia community:

‘I spoke about the life of the city in the context of a full-scale war, the integration of internally displaced persons and support for relocated businesses. I also invited foreign companies to invest in the community and stressed the importance of consolidating European partners around Ukraine. We continue to work to make these meetings the beginning of new joint projects between our countries,’ added the Vinnytsia mayor.

Judith Piquet, President of the Association of Municipalities of the Region of Madrid, noted that this event unites the Ukrainian and Spanish peoples and underlines the commitment to cooperation and solidarity with Ukraine with the utmost respect for the Ukrainian people and their situation.

Further cooperation will facilitate the management of European resources and the search for international funding for sustainable development projects in the municipalities of both sides.

• Iryna Larina, Deputy Director of the City Council's Finance Department;
• Inna Prysich, Deputy Director of the Department of Personnel Policy of the City Council;
• Viktoriia Kozlova, Deputy Director of the Department of Administrative Services of the City Council;
• Liudmyla Shvets, Deputy Head of the Accounting and Reporting Division of the City Council Apparatus;
• Diana Matsiuk, Deputy Director of the Department for Restoration and Development of the City Council.

They say that the two days of the training course were full of discussion and training panels, lecture material and practical exercises. All in order to consolidate the knowledge previously acquired during online classes. The peculiarities of applying European law were considered in various areas, such as finance, project management, human resources policy, ecology and environmental protection.

‘It was a space that, among other things, offered ample opportunities for experience exchange, lively and productive communication with European partners. In particular, we were able to learn more about the activities of local governments on the example of Grand Nancy Métropole, presented by its Vice President Eric Pensalfini, and to learn about the development strategy of Lublin in the presentation of the Deputy Director of the relevant department, Victoria Herun. ‘Together with Marta Smal-Chudzik, Director of the Environmental Protection Department, we discussed in detail the community waste management system, which is extremely relevant for Vinnytsia, a city that is a stakeholder in the implementation of the Green Deal in Ukraine,’ said Inna Prysich, one of the training participants, Deputy Director of the Human Resources Policy Department of Vinnytsia City Council.

The participants also learned a lot about international cooperation programmes and projects funded by the European Union. The audience's attention was fully captured by the lecturers, who were well-known experts Ewelina Graban and Krzysztof Stanowski.

‘It is important that all the knowledge gained during this study visit is of practical importance. It will definitely be used both to develop internal tools for applying European law and to enrich international relations,' said Diana Matsiuk, Deputy Director of the Department for Restoration and Development of Vinnytsia City Council.

For reference: The study visit was organised by the Marie Curie-Skłodowska European University Centre in cooperation with the City of Lublin within the framework of the project ‘Together for Europe - Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence’, an Erasmus+ programme co-financed by the European Union.

The exhibition was organised by the European Federation of the Way of St James together with the Italian region of Lazio and the European Association Via Francigena on the occasion of Italy's presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The event was attended by Andrii Ocheretnyi, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia, Vice President of the European Federation of the Way of St James, and Volodymyr Onofriichuk, a member of the City Council.

Prior to the opening, the Ukrainian delegation had the opportunity to have an audience with Pope Francis, presenting him with a Ukrainian flag and a postcard depicting the sculpture of the Apostle James in Vinnytsia, which symbolises the beginning of the Ukrainian pilgrimage to the relics of the saint.

‘Our sacred heritage and pilgrimage routes, which we are reviving together in the new millennium, have survived wars, epidemics, border changes, and even genocides. But few could have believed that more than half a century after the defeat of the Nazis in Europe, there would be a need to bring criminals against humanity and aggressors to justice. Russian missiles and Iranian drones continue to fly over the heads of several hundred Ukrainian pilgrims who set out on the Way of St James from our native Vinnytsia, and in sunny Odesa, UNESCO World Heritage buildings are being targeted,’ said Andrii Ocheretnyi. ’Today, the Camino de Santiago, Via Francigena and many other pilgrimage routes in Europe are roads where people pray for peace and for a better future for humanity. These roads turn us to face each other, heal our pains and wounds, and give us new experiences. This is what our exhibition is about, and it serves as a tool to unite around the values of the Council of Europe.’

The exhibition ‘From the Franconian Way to the Way of St James: Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe’ consists of 50 photographs and maps that reveal the history and present of two of Europe's most popular active pilgrimage routes: The Way of St James, Camino de Santiago (to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela) and the Franconian Way, Via Francigena (from Canterbury to Rome). Both are certified cultural routes of the Council of Europe, designed to promote fundamental European values: human rights, democracy, dialogue, diversity and cultural identity. The photos feature sacred sites from more than 10 European countries and the pilgrims themselves. It is in this context that the exhibition includes photographs from Podillia, which, thanks to the efforts of Vinnytsia and 10 other communities in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions, has an official branch of the Way of St James called Camino Podolico.

According to Antonello Aurigemma, President of the Regional Council of Lazio, ‘Thanks to this exhibition, we will be able to grasp an authentic and fascinating perspective of the experience, because these routes are not only geographical paths, but real inner journeys that allow us to reflect on our cultural and spiritual identity.’

Read more about the Podillia Way of St James, which leads from Vinnytsia to Kamianets-Podilskyi, here

This is not the first aid from Kielce. Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov noted that these generators will be able to ensure the uninterrupted operation of public utilities in the event of a prolonged power outage in the community.

‘I am grateful to the residents of Kielce and the mayor of the city Agata Wojda for their support. Such assistance is, first and foremost, a sign of true solidarity and friendship, which confirms that the strong traditions of mutual support established decades ago are alive and well today!’ said Serhii Morhunov.

Such international assistance is extremely important to support Vinnytsia community, especially now in the midst of war. And providing educational institutions with alternative power sources is an investment in the continuity of the educational process.

According to Iryna Bozhok, deputy director of the Department of Education, one of the generators is intended for kindergarten No. 33, where more than 100 children study.

‘Currently, there is an alternative power source only for the shelter, and today, thanks to the support of the Polish twin city of Kielce, we are receiving a generator that will ensure the uninterrupted operation of the canteen and lighting during power outages. Another generator is being transferred to Higher Art and Vocational School No. 5 to provide uninterrupted lighting in the educational building. The third will be used by one of the community's utility companies,’ she said.

‘Our sister city of Nancy delivered two trucks of humanitarian aid to us. Olivier Babel, who is an active volunteer from Nancy, also came personally. It was he who united the efforts of the Nancy community to collect and deliver this aid to Vinnytsia. It is mainly intended for hospitals. But there is also a cargo that will be handed over to the children of Balakliya in the near future,’ said Deputy Mayor Vladyslav Skalskyy.

The French collected humanitarian aid for three months.

‘In May 2023, we came to Ukraine for the first time, first to Lviv and then to Vinnytsia. Our cities are twin cities - Nancy and Vinnytsia. We are very pleased that you are welcoming us in Vinnytsia. Our association has collected a lot of help, and the city of Nancy and the cities surrounding Nancy have joined in. The mayor's office joined the association to help collect as much as possible. We are happy that we can do something to help Ukraine and Ukrainians and, of course, the city of Vinnytsia,’ said Olivier Babel, a volunteer from France.

Among the items received were medicines, parenteral nutrition, consumables, saline solutions, means for administering medicines, and many medicines: painkillers and antibiotics. In addition, there are wheelchairs, medical chairs, laser equipment for ophthalmology.

‘This is the third time that Vinnytsia's medical facilities have received assistance from partners from France as part of the inter-municipal cooperation established between the cities of Vinnytsia and Nancy. This time we have received a very large amount of humanitarian aid - two large lorries. All the funds we received were distributed to the institutions where they will be of the greatest benefit. We understand that this is a huge contribution from our French partners. Many of those who collected the aid are not only French, but also Ukrainian emigrants who want to help their countrymen,’ said Nataliia Korobchynska, Deputy Director of the Health Department of the City Council, Head of the Strategic Planning and Health Development Division.

The aid was sent to 10 healthcare facilities in the city: City Clinical Hospitals No. 1 and No. 3, the City Emergency Hospital, the Mother and Child Centre, the Regional Centre for Cardiovascular Pathology, Primary Health Care Centres No. 2, 3 and 4, the City Diagnostic and Treatment Centre and the Dental Centre.

‘It is important to receive assistance from foreign partners at such a difficult time for Ukraine. We are grateful that our friends from Nancy have been supporting us for many years. They are aware of our needs. We have received very important assistance, including care products, which are always needed because they are used in large quantities. In addition, we also received medicines that will benefit our patients as soon as possible,’ says Konstiantin Livakovskyi, director of City Hospital No. 1.

During their visit, the French guests visited four medical institutions in Vinnytsia and talked to doctors and patients.

‘We admire what Vinnytsia hospitals are doing in the face of war. We are also impressed by the fact that the humanitarian aid was distributed very quickly according to the specific needs of the hospitals themselves. This is very important. We see that our help is being used so effectively. It inspires us to keep working and help further,’ Olivier Babel shared his impressions.

Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Department of Education, who represented the city at the meeting, said that this step is important for Vinnytsia, as the programme provides new opportunities for the city's higher education institutions to cooperate with leading European universities.

The double degree programme discussed during the meeting gives students the opportunity to obtain diplomas from two universities at once, which significantly increases their competitiveness in the international labour market. This initiative is important for Vinnytsia and its educational institutions, as it allows students to gain international experience and expand their career opportunities.

The meeting also discussed not only educational but also cultural ties between the countries. Partner cities such as Lublin and Nancy continue to develop cooperation in various areas, including through joint research projects and cultural exchanges. Vinnytsia, by joining this programme, will also be able to actively engage in such initiatives, which will contribute to the development of local culture and science.

Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Education Department of the City Council, noted that the city authorities actively support initiatives aimed at developing education and scientific relations.

Reference:

The Programme Board of the UMCS European Centre opens up new opportunities for students and teachers of Vinnytsia. Double degree programmes, participation in international conferences and cooperation with leading European universities will contribute to the development of the academic environment and improve the level of education in Ukraine.

“Vinnytsia is one of 22 communities across Ukraine where this initiative will be implemented this year. Its goal is to increase the transparency of local authorities and prevent corruption risks. In particular, we plan to implement measures to improve regulatory policy, assess existing risks, apply new digital solutions, and develop international partnerships,” said Serhii Morhunov.

He also expressed hope that Vinnytsia's cooperation with the Pro-Integrity project will allow our community to achieve even more.

“This is a good opportunity for our community to become better. The city has long professed the principles of zero tolerance to corruption. We were the first in Ukraine to open a Transparent Office and are actively implementing digital tools to interact with residents. Our work towards openness and accountability helps us to be among the leaders in city transparency and demonstrate good results,” added Serhii Morhunov.

The cooperation between Pro-Integrity and Vinnytsia City Council will be implemented within the framework of the Alliance of Local Government Integrity and will contribute to:

• effective internal assessment of corruption risks and development of an Integrity Improvement Plan in the areas of procurement, land management, municipal property management, urban planning and architecture, etc;

• reviewing and improving local regulations;

• increasing the capacity of anti-corruption commissioners in the region;

• development/improvement of existing digital tools to strengthen the institutional capacity of the city council.

• improving the environment for economic development in the region and supporting the establishment of partnerships with international financial institutions, as well as EU and US cities.

For reference:

Promoting Integrity in the Public Sector (Pro-Integrity) is an ambitious and largest anti-corruption project since Ukraine's independence, funded jointly by USAID and UK International Development and implemented by DAI Global LLC. The project will last for 5 years. Pro-Integrity works with anti-corruption institutions and other government agencies to strengthen their capacity to detect, combat, and deter corruption, to advance anti-corruption reforms at the national level, to strengthen anti-corruption compliance at the local level, and to promote transparency and accountability in Ukraine's reconstruction process.

Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov expressed his gratitude to the community of Karlsruhe and Mayor Frank Mentrup for their continued support and assistance in a difficult time for Ukraine.

"We are grateful to our partners for their tireless support not only for the schools in Vinnytsia, but also for the shelters where children can study in safe conditions. It is very important to us," said the mayor.

The aid consists of new school furniture that will be distributed among various educational institutions in the city that need to renovate their classrooms and shelters. The cargo has already been unloaded at one of the city's schools, and over the next few days the furniture will be delivered to other schools in Vinnytsia.

In general, this is not the first aid from the German twin city: earlier, Vinnytsia received school furniture, generators and other necessary equipment.

"This support is important for our community, and we greatly appreciate every gesture of support from Karlsruhe. Our children deserve a quality education in comfortable conditions, and each such assistance brings us closer to this goal," added Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Education Department of Vinnytsia City Council.

The visit is aimed at expanding educational opportunities and strengthening good neighbourly relations, especially among young people.

The programme included a number of interesting and interactive events. The guests from Vinnytsia were given a city tour and masterclasses at the Energy Science Centre. In addition, the schoolchildren had the opportunity to meet with local authorities.

Deputy Mayor Bartłomiej Zapała welcomed the participants to the town hall, stressing the importance of this meeting for the further development of bilateral relations.

«We are very pleased to meet our friends from Vinnytsia. This city is the oldest partner of Kielce among the twin cities. I believe that this cooperation will continue to strengthen and we will be able to build even closer ties between our communities,» said Bartłomiej Zapała.

The meetings and discussions were extremely productive. Vinnytsia youth had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics of interest, including the work of local government and the implementation of participatory budgeting in Kielce.

On the second day of their stay, the students visited the Jan Kochanowski University and got acquainted with the campus infrastructure.

As part of the initiative, a children's crafts fair was held, with proceeds going to help the “Give New Year's mood to children from frontline cities” campaign, which aims to improve the lives of children who have lost peace and tranquility due to the war.

“These simple things can become not only gifts, but also symbols of support and attention from the international community,” said Dmytro Myra, director of the VinSmart Center.

Representatives of local communities, charitable organizations and other caring people were actively involved in collecting gifts that will soon be delivered to Ukrainian children from the frontline areas.

“This initiative is an important step towards showing that humanity and kindness have no borders. We are grateful for the support provided by our partners from France and Germany. Children who have survived the war should receive our attention and support, and such events help not only to bring joy but also to remind the whole world that we all need to stand in solidarity in such a difficult time,” said Dmytro Myra.

The visit also included charity fundraisers in Nancy and Karlsruhe, which were accompanied by cultural events. At the events, local residents had the opportunity to get to know Ukrainian culture better. Presentations, concerts, exhibitions, and open workshops were an important part of the initiative, which helped to unite people around the charity even more.

“We want these gifts to become not only material aid, but also a manifestation of humanity and support from our European friends. All these toys and books are a symbol of the fact that there is still hope for a better future and that we do not leave children from the frontline areas alone with difficulties,” said Nina Pyliavets, a teacher at the VinSmart Center.

The panel discussions focused on establishing connections between people and communities in crisis situations, tools and initiatives for long-term partnerships, and other issues.

‘We talked in particular about twinning as one of the tools to increase resilience and development opportunities. This is especially important for Ukrainian communities. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we have felt the support of our European friends from a number of countries, and we have also found reliable partners in Germany and France. We are grateful for the comprehensive support and initiative shown by the international community then and still today,’ said Serhii Morhunov. ’Now we are faced with the task of overcoming the challenges of war with dignity and taking care of the country's recovery in the future. Therefore, we must work together to have the appropriate resources. We will need a lot of them. And it is through horizontal cooperation with international partners and twin cities that we can create a solid foundation for the implementation of these plans.’

Taking this opportunity, the mayor of Vinnytsia called on the mayors of European cities to contribute to the release of their Ukrainian colleagues from russian captivity:

‘I would like to remind you that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the rashists have been deliberately hunting for representatives of local governments. Since the beginning of the war, 55 representatives of municipalities have been held captive by the racists. Now there are 2 mayors in captivity: Kherson and Hola Prystan, as well as one starosta from the Chernihiv region. Last week, after three years of captivity, the rashists returned the body of the mayor of Dniprorudne, Yevhen Matveev. I call on all mayors to join in the release of Ukrainian mayors from russian captivity, and together we can free them,’ said Serhii Morhunov.

During the Summit, he also spoke about the twinning agreement with the German city of Karlsruhe during the full-scale invasion. Serhii Morhunov noted that diplomatic relations had developed quite dynamically, with only nine months passing between the first contacts and the conclusion of the agreement. And this cooperation, according to him, is quite productive and has opened up many opportunities for the exchange of experience, the implementation of various projects and the establishment of close communication between the residents of both communities.

‘I am very grateful for the sincere desire of my colleague, the Mayor of Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup, to help Vinnytsia and Ukraine. I feel very concerned about what is happening in our country. Karlsruhe and Vinnytsia are planning to cooperate in many areas: mobility, urbanism, implementation of the Green Deal goals, and we have also established cooperation between our technical universities. I am grateful to the entire community of Karlsruhe for hosting the children of our Defenders on holiday for two years in a row. For them, it is also a psychological recovery and an opportunity to be free from the constant pressure of air raids, power cuts and other threats for a while,’ said Serhii Morhunov. ’For our part, we can share our experience in providing safe shelters in educational institutions, creating safe conditions for community residents, as well as how to respond to challenges in resettling IDPs and quickly delivering humanitarian aid to people in need. This is bilateral work for municipalities in Ukraine and Europe, and it is important to share experience and have a desire to communicate as much as possible.’

“We are currently working in our sister city of Karlsruhe. Together with German friends, we visited a local company that manufactures therapeutic beds and employs mostly people with disabilities. They are designed for rehabilitation procedures for patients with various medical conditions,” Serhii Morhunov wrote on his Facebook page.

This assistance was made possible thanks to the sponsors who financed the production of these beds - Christian Wimmer and Jochen Sölter.

According to Serhii Morhunov, the city of Karlsruhe has been helping Vinnytsia in various ways since 2023.

“Our city is not in the war zone, but we have received a lot of IDPs - about 43,000 - as well as relocated businesses - 406 enterprises. We also have people who have been disabled as a result of the hostilities. Municipal hospitals have joined the process of treating such patients. And there was an even greater need for rehabilitation, so we began to increase and scale up our rehabilitation departments in municipal hospitals, and, of course, these departments need the necessary equipment. And it is with the support of our friends from Karlsruhe and the company that manufactures this equipment that we receive such assistance,” said Serhii Morhunov.

In addition, Vinnytsia will receive another important technical reinforcement. This is a bus donated as part of the GIZ program to help municipalities in Ukraine in times of war.

He will be sent to a new veterans' center being set up in Vinnytsia. The center will provide the necessary psychological, legal and other assistance to active and demobilized military personnel and their families.

“We feel systematic support from our partners and are grateful to our colleague Mayor Frank Mentrup and the entire community of Karlsruhe, who support Vinnytsia residents in this difficult time for our country. The twinning between our cities has opened up many opportunities for the implementation of joint projects, in particular with a social focus,” summarized Serhii Morhunov.

“On behalf of the entire community, I thanked the French Republic and its great people for their unwavering and steadfast support of Ukraine in our fight against the aggressor! France is our strategic partner not only in the fight, but also in development. It is important to use not only the central level of cooperation, but also the inter-municipal and inter-regional level. As a result, this will speed up Ukraine's recovery in the postwar period. The world needs to hear Ukraine and understand our interests, and we, in turn, need to be grateful, use the opportunities we are given correctly, and, of course, work according to the rules of democratic European countries. Such cooperation is becoming even more relevant now, with Ukraine's acquisition of the EU candidate status,“, – believes Vladyslav Skalskyi.

Vinnytsia residents had an official meeting with the leadership of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. As a result, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, Dijon Metropolis, Vinnytsia Region, and the cities of Vinnytsia and Barcelona signed a partnership agreement with the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) on the establishment and main activities of the Local Democracy Agency in Vinnytsia.

According to the document, the agreement between the partners for Vinnytsia region aims to:

• promote the development of local democracy, facilitate the development of decentralized territorial communities and decentralized international cooperation
• strengthen good governance;
• support cooperation on joint projects;
• develop an inclusive environment;
• improve sustainable waste management;
• promote the digitalization of communities and the modernization of local government;
• promote the development of sustainable entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship, in communities;
• support the principles of gender equality and women's empowerment;
• support IDPs and other vulnerable social groups affected by the war;
• assist in the rehabilitation of veterans and their families;
• support youth initiatives, exchanges and cooperation in sports.

Patrick Molinoz, Vice-President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, said: “The signing of this agreement is a significant step in structuring the long-term support for Ukraine from our region and the city of Dijon. After the support in the war, it will be time to restore and consolidate Ukraine in the European Union. In this way, the region is providing its support for the long term“.

This event was a continuation of the business activity launched last week during the ReBuild Ukraine conference in Warsaw.

During the meeting, Vladyslav Skalskyi thanked the Kielce business for its financial support of the campaign to purchase power generators for Vinnytsia's educational institutions. ‘They are of different capacities and will strengthen the readiness of our schools for a difficult winter for the Ukrainian energy sector. We are very grateful for such assistance!’ said the deputy mayor.

During the visit, the Vinnytsia delegation also presented the investment potential of our community to Polish partners and had a number of interesting meetings. Among the topics discussed were the development of municipal infrastructure and cooperation between cities in terms of attracting European funding.