During the opening ceremony, the head of the local authority, Serhii Morhunov, emphasised the importance of European unity, the support of the international community and the role of books in shaping a conscious society. In his words, even in the midst of war, Ukrainians continue to identify themselves as part of the European community.

'It is important that we feel ourselves to be Europeans. Our young men and women, our heroes and heroines, are fighting not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe and the democratic world. And it is highly symbolic that this year’s VinBookFest is taking place as part of European Weekend. I am convinced that a nation that reads is a wise nation, one that knows how to think, critically assess events and make important decisions,' noted Serhii Morhunov.

He recalled that, prior to the full-scale invasion, our city traditionally celebrated Europe Day on a grand scale, and that is precisely why it is symbolic that this year’s VinBookFest took place as part of European Weekend.

According to Serhii Morhunov, the literary event, which began around ten years ago as an initiative of the city’s libraries, has now grown into a major national cultural event and has become a cherished tradition for Vinnytsia; it is currently held twice a year – in May and September. The mayor also thanked the city’s international partners – the Mayor of Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup, and the Mayor of Nancy, Mathieu Klein – for their support of our community and Ukraine during the war. He noted that the trilateral cooperation between Vinnytsia, Karlsruhe and Nancy has become an example of a strong international partnership, known far beyond the borders of our country.

Following the mayor’s speech, the mayors of Vinnytsia’s twin cities – Frank Mentrup and Mathieu Klein – addressed the VinBookFest audience, highlighting the importance of cultural diplomacy, European solidarity and support for Ukraine through joint humanitarian and cultural initiatives.

Frank Mentrup, Mayor of Karlsruhe, shared his impressions of participating in European events in Germany and Ukraine during his speech, emphasising the importance of twinning partnerships, which have become particularly relevant in the context of the war and the shared challenges facing Europe.

'I am sincerely grateful for the invitation and the opportunity to be part of this event. Every year I come to Vinnytsia with a delegation, and each time I am convinced: it is not only Ukraine’s freedom that is being defended here today, but the freedom of the whole of Europe. It is here that we best understand how to support one another and strengthen our cooperation and trust. This year, I am not only helping but also learning – from Ukraine’s experience, your resilience and capacity for recovery. We are talking about resilience – in infrastructure, culture and, above all, in people, in the strength of spirit that unites Ukraine and Europe,' said Frank Mentrup.

In turn, Mayor of Nancy Mathieu Klein emphasised: 'I would like to address the young people of Vinnytsia first and foremost: living in a city that prioritises culture, knowledge and reading is a great value, especially today, during the war. Reading and books are the highest form of freedom. And it is no coincidence that European Weekend and the opening of the book festival are taking place at the same time. After all, russia’s attempts to destroy Ukrainian identity, rewrite history and restrict access to knowledge are what we must stand up to together. By defending books, we are defending freedom, democracy and the right of a people to determine their own future.'

Serhii Morhunov, the head of the Vinnytsia community, also noted that, looking ahead, it is important to foster cultural exchange between twin cities so that German and French artists visit Vinnytsia more often, and Ukrainian artists—particularly those from Vinnytsia—have the opportunity to showcase their work in Germany and France. This, he said, would be another step towards strengthening international cultural ties and mutual understanding between the countries.

In particular, the delegates toured the festival grounds and visited the main pavilion, ‘VinBookHall – the book territory’. Representatives of the local authorities and Vinnytsia’s partners spoke with publishers and authors, and noted the wide range of literary works on display at the stands. The guests paid particular attention to the diversity of Ukrainian publishing houses and the scale of the book exhibition, which brought together dozens of participants from different regions of the country. Among them were KSD, Ranok, Folio, Buk-Druk, Magura, Lybid, Vydavnytstvo Staroho Leva, Zelenyi Pes, Bilka, Pamiatky Ukrainy, Ukrainskyi Priorytet, Kalamar, Pan Kotskyi, Chytarium, Chas Maistriv, Krokus, TaTySHO, Dzhura, as well as the local publishers Vyshenka and Edelweiss.

‘Authors’ Alley’ operated separately – a tented village of contemporary writers where visitors could chat with authors in person, buy books and get autographs. Among the festival participants were Vasyl Shkliar, Serhii Ponomarenko, Vitalii Zapeka, Dmytro Chekalkyn, Liuko Dashvar, Iren Rozdobudko, Svitlana Talan, Brother Kapranov, Vasyl Dobrianskyi, Volodymyr Shovkoshytnyi, Liudmyla Okhrimenko, Vasyl Piddubnyi, Liubov Dolyk, Oleksandr Khomenko, Nadiia Seniovska, Mykola Nikolaiev, Oleh Havrysh, Ihor Zakharenko, Oksana Chorna, as well as Ruslan Horovyi and Liudmyla Horova, and other authors. Children’s authors, including Sashko Dermanskyi and Dara Kornii, presented their books to the youngest readers.

A key feature of the festival was the ‘Vinnytsia Literary Space’ – a dedicated venue for over 40 local authors, hosting book presentations, creative gatherings and live discussions with readers. As part of VinBookFest, the ‘BookHub – Space for Living Stories’ was also organised. The main events took place at two open-air venues, which served as platforms for creative meetings, panel discussions and presentations. Over the course of two days, 35 creative meetings took place here.

A public discussion entitled 'Youth Unites' and an interactive lecture titled 'The EU and Ukraine: Opportunities Without Borders', organised in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, were held for young people. Anna Osmolovska moderated the events. The festival also featured a panel discussion entitled ‘The Power of Words and the Memory of Generations: How Books Shape Modern Ukraine’, with the participation of Volodymyr Shovkoshytnyi, Vitalii Kapranov, Vasyl Piddubnyi, Viktoriia Kolmykova, and Oksana Chorna. The meeting was moderated by Dmytro Chekalkyn.

Interactive themed areas for both children and adults created a special atmosphere at the festival. These included ‘From Dream to the EU: Schuman’s Legacy’, ‘Harry Potter and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Detective Laboratory’, ‘Dragon’s Cave’, a space for anime and manga fans, and the chess area ‘Move of Generations’. Interactive games, quests and quizzes were held here.

Particular attention was paid to providing psychological support for children and young people. In the ‘Green Tent – Children’s Balance Space’, the NGO ‘Educational Space’ organised trauma-informed educational activities and workshops, including ‘My Resource Hero’, ‘The Colours of My Emotions’ and ‘My World of Joy’.

The charity campaign ‘Give a Book to a Soldier’ remained a traditional highlight of the event. For the fourth year running, VinBookFest participants and guests have been donating Ukrainian-language books to Ukrainian defenders undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in the city’s medical facilities.

The European Square also featured themed photo zones, relaxation areas and open spaces for informal socialising.

'VinBookFest is not just a book festival, but an open space for encounters, ideas and inspiration, where Ukrainian books bring people together, shape shared values and open up new horizons within the European cultural sphere. These are stories written by generations and uniting them in a shared cultural space,' said Olena Zakvatska, director of the cultural institution Vinnytsia City Centralised Library System.

At the start of the day, the delegates, together with representatives of Vinnytsia City Council and local residents, joined in a nationwide minute’s silence. They then paid tribute to the memory of the defenders who lost their lives in the russian-Ukrainian war, as well as all the civilians whose lives were taken by the war.

During the official meeting of mayors, Serhii Morhunov thanked his foreign colleagues for their contribution to strengthening our community. He noted that cooperation and established direct communication at the municipal level enables us to attract humanitarian aid, organise leisure activities for children, and develop joint medical, economic and infrastructure projects.

'It is heartening that such meetings are becoming a tradition. Thank you for once again showing courage and coming to Vinnytsia in such difficult times,' said Serhii Morhunov. 'We have already achieved a great deal since the start of our relationship. In particular, we are finalising one of the phases of the project ‘Improving the quality and efficiency of urban public transport in the centre of Vinnytsia, Ukraine’ with Germany. I would also like to thank Karlsruhe for its expert assessment and assistance in updating the Community Development Strategy – this is an important issue for us, especially during wartime. And I would like to thank the mayor and the community of Nancy for their support regarding generators and medical supplies; tomorrow we will be signing a document on the prosthetics project. This is an important area of cooperation for medical professionals in Vinnytsia, as well as in Karlsruhe, Nancy and Lublin, which is also participating in this project.'

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss areas for further international cooperation – ranging from internships and school exchanges to the implementation of projects focused on post-war reconstruction and community resilience, particularly in the fields of energy and healthcare.

'In addition to the important projects in the areas of hospital support, prosthetics and the provision of generators, which we will continue to work on, I would like next year to be a year of deeper acquaintance and cooperation between the young people of our cities. We hope for Ukraine’s victory and the end of the war, as there are many pupils and teachers in Nancy who would like to come to Vinnytsia for school exchanges and joint projects. We must start preparing the younger generation for this post-war cooperation right now,' said the Mayor of Nancy, Mathieu Klein.

Serhii Morhunov added that our community’s main priorities remain unchanged. At present, the Vinnytsia City Council team is focusing its attention on preparations for the upcoming heating season.

'We are looking to the future in the context of the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine and Vinnytsia in particular. We have the most extensive experience in responding to critical and crisis situations. The main challenge for the whole of Ukraine right now is preparing for the heating season. Last winter showed just how important this is. We understand that the enemy will not stop, so we have developed a resilience programme at city, regional and national levels, which includes strengthening the decentralisation of energy and heat supply, as well as protecting critical infrastructure from air strikes,' emphasised Serhii Morhunov.

The mayors of Karlsruhe and Nancy emphasised the value of such experience for the security of the whole of Europe. In particular, the Mayor of Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup, noted that European cities are keen to learn from Ukraine’s expertise in protecting critical infrastructure, which is changing the nature of our cooperation: Ukraine is shifting from being a recipient of aid to becoming a mentor in crisis response.

'We are now thinking about how to learn to protect our infrastructure. Ukraine is gradually transforming from a country that everyone helps into a country that can itself share its experience in preparing for crisis situations. This is changing both our cooperation and its focus. Today, I have been tasked with discussing with a regional enterprise how to rebuild a resilient and reliable energy infrastructure together with Ukraine. Such plans are currently one of the government’s recurring requests,' noted Frank Mentrup.

In addition, the foreign delegates met with Vinnytsia city councillors that day. Pavlo Yablonskyi, Chairman of Vinnytsia City Council, presented the work of the council and outlined the community’s key priorities. First and foremost, these are Security and Defence, Resilience, and Care. 'The war has come very close; it has entered every family, every home. And, of course, all the work of the city council has been adapted to the challenges we face today. We continue to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, maintain the roads and urban infrastructure, and are working on a major accessibility project. Because today, many of our defenders are returning from the front with injuries and amputations, and our task is to ensure that those returning from the war can move freely, comfortably and with dignity around the city. Accessibility is a sign of respect for those who have defended and continue to defend Ukraine. And the community must be ready to welcome them not with words, but with concrete actions,' said Pavlo Yablonskyi.

Another venue for continuing the dialogue was the VinIndustry industrial park, where discussions focused, in particular, on the economic resilience of communities during wartime.
According to Serhii Morhunov, to strengthen the community’s resilience, the city council team is implementing autonomous energy supply, continuing to modernise public transport and carrying out important infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of water treatment facilities and the sewerage system.

The day’s visit was also marked by a packed cultural programme. The foreign guests, in particular, visited the Town Hall – a building in the heart of the city that has witnessed significant historical events. The delegates were shown a mini-exhibition entitled ‘Relics of Self-Governance’, which demonstrates our city’s deep historical ties with European culture. On display were a collar, a key and seals – relics that bear witness to the continuity of municipal self-government dating back at least to the 17th century, when Vinnytsia was granted Magdeburg rights.

Such events symbolise shared values, as the twinning relationship between our cities continues to grow stronger, and the willingness of both sides to further cooperation opens up new prospects for development.

This is already the second meeting between representatives from Ukraine, France, and Romania. This year, the main focus was not simply on diplomacy, but on practical learning: exchanging experiences and creating educational and recreational programmes that help children cope with stress. Participating in such formats allows them to see new approaches to working with young people without prejudice and to adopt effective European practices.

The focus has now shifted to the practical development of joint projects. Together with their French and Romanian partners, they worked on new programmes that can subsequently be implemented directly in Vinnytsia.

'Our children are gaining valuable experience, representing their city and forging strong bonds with their peers from France and Romania. It is important for us to support such initiatives, as they make a direct contribution to the social resilience of our young people. They see that the world is open to them, feel the support of the European community and learn to think globally,' notes Olena Voitovych, Deputy Head of the Youth Policy Division at Vinnytsia City Council.

Cooperation between the communities began in the autumn of 2025. At that time, the people of Vinnytsia adopted European experience for the first time in involving young people in circus and animation arts as a method of psychological support. This year’s visit was a logical continuation of the initiative.

For the studio’s pupils, this is first and foremost an opportunity to unwind, switch off and work in a safe environment, believes Liudmyla Polishchuk, head of the KASSSKAD circus studio. She notes that this year the project placed a special emphasis on inclusivity and practical activities, where, despite the language barrier, the young people understand each other perfectly through movement, acrobatics and collaborative creativity.

'We are immensely grateful to our colleagues abroad for such a warm welcome. The French and Romanian lecturers are true masters of their craft and people with a capital ‘P’. Their sincerity, patience and professionalism inspired us every day. They are incredibly kind and open-minded, and we greatly appreciate having had the opportunity to work side by side with such experts,' emphasises Liudmyla Polishchuk.

According to her, the group from Vinnytsia brought back with them a wealth of new methods and knowledge, which they will now share with other pupils back home. The studio director adds that after such projects, the children return home completely transformed – more composed and confident in their own abilities.

As Yevhen Liubchak, a representative of the Vinnytsia Youth Council, points out, this trip provided a valuable platform for exchanging experiences. In his words, it is an opportunity not just to see another country, but to interact face-to-face with equally active people and find out what their lives are like.

'It’s an incredibly cool experience and a great opportunity! But apart from exchanging ideas, we have another important mission. It’s a chance to talk directly about Ukraine. When you see that Europe’s active youth aren’t just listening, but are genuinely committed to helping and standing by our side – it’s inspiring. You feel their genuine, active support and clearly understand that we are not alone, but together,' shares Yevhen Liubchak.

The VINNYTSCIRK project remains not only a platform for creativity and learning, but also a tool for youth diplomacy, strengthening Vinnytsia’s partnerships with European municipalities.

Both cities plan to exchange experience in the fields of sustainable development, innovation and community initiatives, as well as in sectors such as the economy, energy, medicine, education, culture, and emergency and crisis response.

As Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov noted, the new partnership with Boulder in the US is an important step towards strengthening international cooperation and supporting communities during these challenging times.

‘Despite the thousands of kilometres, the Atlantic Ocean and differing security conditions, we are united by a desire for cooperation and partnership. This is a conscious choice, as since 2022 we have come a long way towards each other. Today, as the world faces serious challenges, we particularly feel the value of support. Ukraine has been resisting aggression for many years, and I thank the American people, politicians and communities for their support; this is of paramount importance for our resilience,' he remarked.

Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett is convinced that this partnership will serve as an important platform for joint projects and will bring the Ukrainian and American communities even closer together. He also added that the signing of the official Declaration of Intent for partnership cooperation between our cities demonstrates a shared commitment to friendship, cooperation and the mutual exchange of experience for the sake of peace, resilience and the development of democratic values.

‘It is a great honour for me to be present at today’s event. I would like to thank the people who made this meeting possible. I am deeply impressed by the resilience of the Ukrainian people. I hope that our cooperation will bring more light to the residents of Boulder and Vinnytsia. We are grateful to the people of Vinnytsia and look forward to a long-term partnership,' said Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett.

Serhii Morhunov also emphasised that Vinnytsia has friendly ties with many cities across various European countries, and that partnerships with them are built primarily on a horizontal level, where communication and the implementation of various projects involve different institutions, the public, educational establishments and healthcare facilities, and, of course, local authorities.

In fact, it was this very initiative that marked the start of cooperation between Vinnytsia and Boulder following the full-scale invasion, when a local resident, Gaea Logan – an experienced psychoanalyst and group therapist – launched an online support programme for Ukrainian mental health professionals. This initiative subsequently developed into systematic cooperation, notably with the Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University, as well as the establishment of the International Institute for Trauma Research, which is currently training specialists to address the consequences of the war.

'Horizontal links between cities become points of support – this is where solutions that strengthen communities are born. We have learnt to act in conditions of uncertainty, to adapt and to take responsibility. No city can be strong without partners. I am convinced that this twinning is, above all, about the exchange of experience, mutual trust and a shared future. And the best way to shape it is to build it together today. I thank Boulder for its openness and willingness to cooperate. True alliances are forged precisely in the face of challenges,' added Serhii Morhunov.

Pavlo Yablonskyi, Chairman of Vinnytsia City Council, emphasised that the new partnership has all the prerequisites to become meaningful and mutually beneficial for both communities:

'For us, this is the foundation for further cooperation, because any partnership has value only when it is filled with concrete content and practical results. Ukraine today has unique experience in responding to extraordinary challenges, and at the same time, communities in different parts of the world face similar problems. That is why it is important to pool this experience and use it for joint development,' he noted.

During the meeting, practical areas of cooperation were discussed, along with opportunities to strengthen the export potential of the Vinnytsia community and the Vinnytsia region, and, indeed, the prospects for Vinnytsia businesses entering the Norwegian market.

Deputy Mayors Andrii Ocheretnyi and Vladyslav Skalskyy presented the potential of the Vinnytsia community to the guests. In particular, they discussed Vinnytsia’s positioning on the map of Europe, the development of international ties, the city’s functioning during the war, strategic directions for the community’s development, and the implementation of the Green Deal.

Particular attention was paid to the development of the city’s economy, the food sector and industry, support for renewable energy projects, the development of IT and innovation, as well as the community’s current investment projects.

'The Vinnytsia City Council team is consistently working to strengthen the community’s economic resilience and openness to international cooperation. We present Vinnytsia as a reliable partner which, even in challenging circumstances, continues to develop, invest and create new opportunities for business. We understand that development requires not only internal resources but also the ability to build long-term partnerships. It is through such trade and economic ties that businesses gain access to new markets, knowledge and tools for development, whilst the community, in turn, gains additional opportunities for growth and stability,' said Deputy Mayor Andrii Ocheretnyi.

Andreas Tranøy, Senior Advisor at NUCC on Agriculture and Seafood, explained that he has been living and working in Ukraine for five years, so he has experience of working with both Ukrainian and Norwegian entrepreneurs.

'I have been living and working in Ukraine for five years now, so I have a good understanding of the specific characteristics of both the Ukrainian and Norwegian business environments. Our current aim is to get to know the regions better, to understand their areas of specialisation and their potential for cooperation with Norway. We are actively working with entrepreneurs and various communities, holding themed seminars and networking events, as it is important to create conditions for direct interaction between people and businesses,' said Andreas Tranøy. 'We see significant opportunities for exchanging experience and developing partnerships in a number of areas – particularly in the energy sector, where Norway has strong expertise, in the operation of critical infrastructure, in manufacturing, the textile and metallurgical industries, fisheries and agriculture. There are already examples of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries, and we aim to expand this.'

Ihor Tsekhanovskyi, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Regional Development at Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration, presented the economic and investment potential of the Vinnytsia region, outlined key areas of the region’s development and opportunities for expanding international cooperation.

Following this meeting, as part of the business visit, the NUCC delegation held a practical seminar entitled ‘Entering the Norwegian Market’. The event was aimed at representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises interested in scaling up and international operations.

During the seminar, participants received practical advice on:

• the specifics of the Norwegian market and current consumer trends;

• preparing products for export;

• available financial support instruments;

• approaches to positioning and marketing in the Scandinavian market.

In addition, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to ask questions to experts and establish new business contacts.

One of the seminar participants noted that such events contribute to the development of the entrepreneurial environment, open up new opportunities for local businesses and help them integrate into international economic processes.

The event was organised by the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC) in cooperation with Vinnytsia City Council and with the support of Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration.

'These are active young people who have joined the ‘Leaders’ Camp’ project. Over the course of eight days, the children will visit partner schools, get to know the local educational environment and interact with their peers. For both our communities, such friendly visits are a good investment in the future. After all, it is through personal encounters that lasting friendships between cities and communities begin. This is exactly how horizontal ties are formed. I would like to thank our partners from Münster – Rotary Club Münster 1648, ASB RV Münsterland e.V., Stadt Münster – as well as everyone who has joined this initiative,' emphasised Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov.

The Department of Education notes that such visits broaden the scope of partnerships between schools and enrich cooperation through direct communication between pupils and teachers.

'Joint projects and lively interaction between pupils and teachers within the framework of this cooperation will help us learn more about the history and culture of our partner countries,' said Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Department of Education.

Nine students from each school took part. Participants were selected from among those who are actively involved in school life.

‘These are the leaders – presidents of the student council, members of the student parliament, members of the editorial team of the school newspaper, and students who take part in sports and other activities. Proficiency in English was a mandatory requirement, and knowledge of German is also welcome. Our host organisation wants the children to engage in lively communication with their peers from other countries. We understand that it will primarily be in English, but our students are proficient in both English and German. They are going to gain experience, get to know a new culture and, I hope, bring back many new ideas,' says Anna Romanova, headteacher of Vinnytsia Lyceum No. 7.

The participants plan to focus on the teaching process, the work of school teams and interaction between pupils.

‘I want to make the most of this trip: to see how the teaching process is organised, how school projects work, and how pupils interact with one another. It will be interesting to see what we can adapt for our school. I hope to bring back ideas that will be useful not only for our lyceum but also for the city as a whole,' says Platon Muliar, a student at Vinnytsia Technical Lyceum.

Upon their return, the students plan to apply the experience they have gained in their own schools and join further joint initiatives.

Recently, in the Swedish city, Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov and Helsingborg Mayor Christian Orsing signed a Partnership Agreement between our cities.

This cooperation will cover various areas – from innovation and security to culture, education and science. Initiatives are also planned to help overcome the effects of trauma and strengthen community resilience in the post-war period. At the same time, this partnership creates a new space for the exchange of ideas, international learning and joint projects that will have a positive impact on the lives of both communities.

Serhii Morhunov, Mayor of Vinnytsia, thanked our partners in Helsingborg for their trust, solidarity and consistent support for Ukraine. According to him, the agreement signed between our cities demonstrates our readiness to respond together to the challenges facing European cities — from security to infrastructure resilience and support for the people.

'Ukraine has been living in the reality of full-scale war for several years now. We have weathered a pandemic, blackouts, constant threats of shelling and the need to rapidly restructure city management. During this time, we have developed practical solutions in the areas of shelters, warning systems, energy stability, healthcare and education. This experience is important today, not just for us. We are ready to share it with our partners,' said Serhii Morhunov. 'Helsingborg is a city with similar approaches to development: innovation, ecology, testing new solutions, and strong logistics. Therefore, this cooperation has every chance of being substantive – at the level of municipalities, teams, institutions and business. We expect this partnership to be long-lasting – through specific projects and joint decisions.'

The Mayor of Helsingborg, Christian Orsing, noted that the Partnership Agreement between our cities was signed on the principles of equality and reciprocity. And although our cities differ in size, he is convinced that they have far more in common than might initially appear.

'Ukraine is fighting today not only for itself, but also for our shared freedom. And this support is not limited to the state level – at the local level, we also have complete unity in our partnership with Ukrainian cities. We are already learning a great deal from Ukraine – above all in matters of resilience and crisis response. At the same time, we have something to share. Together, we can be stronger and better protect our residents,' added Christian Orsing.

Vladyslav Skalskyy told the guests about Vinnytsia and life in the community, in particular about achievements in the fields of the economy and social policy, medicine, education, and the IT sector. He also presented investment projects designed to bring practical benefits to the community and improve the quality of life for residents.

They also focused separately on the topics of accessibility and post-war reconstruction.

Vinnytsia is open to cooperation and already has significant experience of working with international partners on projects aimed at community development and supporting its stability, noted Vladyslav Skalskyy.

‘We are already shaping our vision for the future today – not only through the reconstruction of infrastructure, but also by creating a modern environment for living, working and leisure, as well as new opportunities for residents’ development. In fact, every resident of Vinnytsia is very proud of their city. And the fact that Vinnytsia has been recognised as the most liveable city for nine years running is a high accolade, which at the same time motivates the city council team not to rest on their laurels and to continue developing the city as a European, modern and liveable place. It is also important to build horizontal links — business with business, civil society with civil society, culture with culture — whilst the city and the region must create all the necessary conditions for this,” emphasised Vladyslav Skalskyy.

Seymur Mardaliyev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine, highlighted the city’s dynamism and potential, particularly in the economic sphere, and expressed his readiness to develop close ties between our countries, as well as between Vinnytsia and Azerbaijani communities.

In the practical part of the discussions, they considered joint work in the field of renewable energy and the development of the economic and trade sectors, as well as the exchange of experience in areas such as culture, tourism and education. This includes, in particular, partnerships between cities and cooperation between universities, which opens up new opportunities for bilateral development.

'We don’t just want to pay lip service to our partnership; we want to give it substance – through the exchange of expertise, visits and joint initiatives. That is how trust and genuine cooperation are built,' emphasised Seymour Mardaliyev.

'A vital aid package for Vinnytsia – 32 generators. They were provided by the German Embassy in Ukraine and the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). The total value is over 685,000 euros,' Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov announced on social media.

As part of the humanitarian aid, the city is receiving one 400 kW generator, three 440 kW generators, two 160 kW generators, six 80 kW generators and a further twenty small 14 kW generators.

'We will distribute them among our municipal utilities, management companies and the city’s healthcare facilities. This support is needed now, when the energy sector and power generation facilities are under constant attack from russia. Autonomous power sources will help keep the city running. Thank you to our German friends for the humanitarian aid provided. It is extremely valuable to us,' said the head of the community.

The aid was provided with the assistance of the Podilska Hromada charitable organisation, the municipal enterprise Institute for Urban Development, and the Department of Municipal Services of Vinnytsia City Council.

All the generators received will be used at facilities essential to the community’s livelihood.

According to Ihor Rozborskyi, Deputy Director of the Department of Municipal Services at Vinnytsia City Council, in the event of potential power cuts, they will help ensure the uninterrupted provision of services.

'The experience of the last heating season, which took place amid prolonged power cuts (lasting over 16–18 hours), showed that thanks to such equipment, critical infrastructure facilities were effectively supplied with power and were able to operate 24/7,' notes Ihor Rozborskyi.

Discussions centred on the Podillia Way of St James (Camino Podolico), which has existed since 2021 and was accepted into the European Federation of the Way of St James as early as 2023, as well as the new Camino Ruteno route, which is currently being developed.

It is known that the Camino Ruteno will run through the Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions and will cover the princely cities of historic Galicia: Chortkiv, Halych, Zvenyhorod and Lviv. Its final destination will be the village of Shehyni on the border with Poland. The total length of the route will thus be 460 kilometres.

'I am convinced that the Camino Podolico, the Camino Ruteno and their integration with the European routes of the Camino de Santiago via Poland represent an important step towards shaping a shared European future for Ukraine’s Camino routes, enabling us all to feel like one united European family,” said Andrii Ocheretnyi, Vice-President of the European Federation of the Way of St James and Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia, who opened the forum.

Natalia Tabaka, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development, emphasised the importance of such initiatives for the development of domestic tourism in Ukraine and noted that the Ukrainian Camino will be one of the first to be included in the ‘Journey to Oneself. Paths to Recovery’ project-programme, aimed at the systematic emotional and psychophysical recovery of Ukrainians through travel within the country.

International dialogue and the European context

The President of the European Federation of the Way of St James, Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, attended the forum in Vinnytsia in person. His visit not only demonstrated close professional cooperation but also served as a gesture of solidarity and support for Ukraine during these difficult times.

'Once again, I express my personal and resolute support, as well as that of the European Federation of the Way of St James, for the people of Ukraine and their struggle for independence, sovereignty and freedom – not only for their own territory, but for the entire European continent… You can count on the European Federation of the Way of St James to support everything you are doing to restore, protect, manage and promote the Way of St James routes in Ukraine: both the Camino Podolico and the Camino Ruteno,' emphasised Mr Ildefonso.

A key part of the programme consisted of presentations by international partners from Spain, Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands. They shared their experiences of developing Camino routes across Europe and highlighted successful examples of how these routes are boosting the economy and community development.

The forum was also attended by Jānis Grandāns – a journalist and author of the most popular blog on family travel in Latvia. This was his eighth visit to Ukraine with his family since 2023, and this time he plans to cycle the Camino Podolico from Vinnytsia to Kamianets-Podilskyi.

Signing of the memorandum: a new phase of cooperation

A key highlight of the forum was the Camino Ruteno team’s signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at developing and promoting the Way of St James in Ukraine.

The document was signed by Diana Vozna, Chief Specialist of the Department of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration; Taras Hrynchyshyn, Chief Specialist of the Investment and Development Division of the Executive Committee of the Bibrka City Council; Vitalii Muzhik, leading specialist of the Hospitality Standards Division of the Tourism Management Department of the Economic Development Department of Lviv City Council; Marianna Batsvin, deputy director of the ‘Ancient Halych’ National Reserve; and Ildefonso de la Campa Montenegro, president of the European Federation of the Way of St James.

In fact, the signing of the memorandum marked an important step towards the formation of a unified Camino network in Ukraine. A shared vision of the future

Particular attention was paid to the pilgrims’ experiences – during the expert panel, participants shared their own stories of walking the Camino Podolico, their motivations and personal transformations along the way.

The invited guests were:

• Yurii Tsybukh – a Lviv-based tour guide, activist and architect who has walked the Camino Podolico twice;

• Dmytro Syvak – a traveller, mountaineer and caver who led a group of 15 children on the Camino Podolico;

• Olha Shramko – author of a blog about travel and lifestyle;

• Nadiia Okhopko – a hiker who met a little dog named Zhulia on the route;

• Svitlana Hordiichuk – a hiking guide and ambassador for the Camino Podolico.

In recognition of their active involvement and promotion of the route, they were presented with symbolic certificates as ambassadors of the Podillia Way of St James during the forum.

Finally, forum participants worked in thematic groups, where they discussed specific steps for the development of Camino routes in Ukraine.

The event thus confirmed that Ukraine is moving confidently towards integration into the European cultural and tourism space. And the development of the Camino de Santiago routes is becoming not only a tourism project, but also a tool for international partnership, cultural exchange and community regeneration.

The forum was organised by the Vinnytsia City Council’s Department of City Marketing and Tourism, which acts as the coordinator for Camino Podolico. The event took place at the ‘Etnochary’ art space and served as an important platform for forging partnerships, making new connections and networking.

Karlsruhe, Germany

Equipment for resilience centres, tents, generators, heaters and technical equipment for urban infrastructure – all of this was delivered to the community to ensure that warming centres remained operational during blackouts, so that people could charge their phones, receive basic assistance and cope more easily with the power cuts. To collect supplies in Karlsruhe, charity fairs and community initiatives were organised, involving local residents, the Ukrainian community, businesses and civil society organisations.

In 2023, aid from Karlsruhe was scaled up. Two large lorries arrived in Vinnytsia carrying hospital beds, bedside tables, desks, chairs and blackboards for school shelters. They also delivered cots, high chairs, car seats, clothing, footwear, nappies, toys, mattresses, blankets and other everyday items. In the same year, Karlsruhe donated a modern refuse collection lorry to Vinnytsia for the municipal company ‘EcoVin’. During visits by representatives of Vinnytsia to Karlsruhe, the mayor thanked the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Karlsruhe for its ongoing support of Ukraine and Vinnytsia.

In 2024, the partners focused on the items most urgently needed by hospitals, rehabilitation centres and children. Vinnytsia received a Fiat Ducato minibus for a veterans’ rehabilitation centre, an anaesthesia machine, a mobile ventilator, and special tables for patient recovery. Separately, aid was delivered to one of the city’s secondary schools, where a radiation shelter for 850 children and adults was set up. Seating, first-aid kits, blankets, water and other essential items were brought there to ensure people’s safety and comfort inside the building during alerts.

In 2025, volunteers delivered 800 school desks and chairs for secondary schools, over 19 tonnes of aid for the ‘Vinnytsia’ humanitarian hub, 50 fire extinguishers, a coach and two more low-floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro city buses with ramps, which have been transporting passengers on one of the most popular routes for several months now. The humanitarian hub also received 7 medical couches, 5 wheelchairs, 25 items of furniture and 19,600 kg of building materials for the repair and restoration of the premises where people are being helped.

Support from Karlsruhe continues. Vinnytsia recently received a new humanitarian consignment from its twin city: over 200 metres of pre-insulated pipes for the district heating company, as well as 20 modern hospital beds, bedside tables and rehabilitation equipment. The aid was delivered with financial support from GIZ as part of the ‘Support for Ukrainian Municipalities During the War’ project.

Most of the medical equipment will be transferred to the rehabilitation department of Vinnytsia City Clinical Hospital No. 1.

The pipes and fittings will be received by the city’s heating supply company — this will help to resolve network faults more quickly and provide a more stable service to residents.

Nancy, France

Support from this twin town focused primarily on the community’s healthcare facilities and on assistance with the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. In January 2025, two lorries of aid arrived in the community, which was distributed among hospitals and primary healthcare centres. This included beds, medicines, medical consumables, wheelchairs, furniture and other equipment. By March, the partners from Nancy had delivered a further 10 tonnes of supplies to the city: adjustable beds, rehabilitation equipment, medical furniture, an exercise bike for patient recovery, as well as 472 boxes of medicines, dressings and consumables.

Münster, Germany

This partner city stepped in to support Vinnytsia at a time when the community needed both aid for resilience centres and equipment for medical services, civil protection and municipal services. In late 2022, Münster provided the community with aid for resilience centres – food, kitchen equipment, generators and other essential supplies. In July 2023, rollators, exercise machines, spinning bikes and other rehabilitation equipment were delivered to the rehabilitation ward of City Clinical Hospital No. 1. And in August, the community received a minibus, two more generators, tools and equipment for civil protection services and municipal utilities.

And as early as February this year, as part of the Vinnytsia–Münster–Lublin partnership, the city received a specialised minibus for social services. It is used to transport people with disabilities, war veterans and residents with limited mobility.

Münster continues to support Vinnytsia to this day. Recently, rehabilitation equipment for hospitals and over 60 sets of school furniture – desks and chairs – were delivered to the community. All of this was distributed among medical and educational institutions where such assistance is most needed.

Ventspils, Latvia

In 2022, following attacks on energy infrastructure, the municipality of Ventspils and its residents promptly donated two diesel generators, rated at 50 and 60 kW, to Vinnytsia. These helped to keep the city’s infrastructure running during power cuts.

The following year, Ventspils donated a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus to Vinnytsia, which had previously been used for passenger transport in the Latvian city. It was used to deliver generators, heaters, clothing, food and other essential items. This proved helpful both during the cold spell and in providing day-to-day support for the people.

Kielce, Poland

In 2022, Kielce provided the community with food and hygiene products, and in December, a 9-tonne consignment of food arrived in Vinnytsia for large and socially vulnerable families. The following year, the city donated a further 9 tonnes of food and hygiene products for internally displaced persons and local residents. In 2025, this support continued: Vinnytsia received three generators.

Panevėžys, Lithuania

In spring 2022, a large consignment of food, hygiene products, medical supplies, children’s drawings and stationery arrived in Vinnytsia from Panevėžys. In 2025, the partners donated three generators to the community. One was installed at Vocational School No. 11, and the other two at Nursery Schools No. 67 and No. 75.

Peterborough, United Kingdom

Our twin town, Peterborough, began supporting Vinnytsia from the very first months of the full-scale war, and later focused specifically on helping children.

In 2022, the community received a 10-tonne shipment containing food, first-aid kits, clothing, hygiene products and household cleaning products. This helped meet people’s basic needs during the first months of the major war. Another important area of support from Peterborough concerned children. In 2024, British volunteers donated Chromebooks to Vinnytsia, which were distributed to vulnerable children for their education.

A separate area of international support is the rehabilitation of children of combatants, in particular the sons and daughters of Ukraine’s fallen defenders. The programme was joined by Kielce, Gdynia, Karlsruhe, Münster, Nancy, Dijon, the Liberec Region, Panevėžys, and Ventspils. Over four years, with the support of partner and twin towns, 730 children benefited from the health programmes. For them, this was an opportunity to spend time in a safer environment, to rest and to recover, at least to some extent.

For Vinnytsia community, it is important to feel that there are friends nearby who support us not with words, but with deeds. We thank our partner and twin towns for their friendly support and for standing by us.

This strategic partnership is being implemented through the Expertise France Health Programme in Ukraine, funded by the Crisis Support Centre (CDCS) of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE).

The work will involve the introduction of rapid diagnostic methods, which will enable the implementation of antibiotic therapy strategies, improve patient treatment outcomes and ensure the rational use of antibiotics.

The collaboration with the French partners began with the Vinnytsia City Emergency Hospital and the Department of Infectious Diseases at Vinnytsia National Medical University. All city hospitals – Hospitals No. 1 and No. 3, the Regional Cardiology Centre, and the Mother and Child Centre – will subsequently be involved as well.

Currently, French medical professionals Paul-Louis Woerther, Jean-Ralph Zahar, Naima Taleb and Tetiana Melnyk are analysing and monitoring the situation in hospitals, developing recommendations and delivering specialist lectures for doctors, as well as reviewing complex clinical cases. This is how a strategy for infection control and effective antibiotic therapy is being developed. A more extensive training programme for doctors is planned for the future.

'I would like to thank the people of Vinnytsia for welcoming us. We were struck by the motivation and resilience of Ukrainian doctors. The aim of our future work is to better understand the dynamics of multi-drug-resistant bacteria in order to combat infections more effectively. The project focuses on effectively identifying such bacteria and effectively treating patients who are resistant to drugs,' said microbiologist Paul-Louis Woerther.

Sixteen medical professionals from Vinnytsia, led by Nataliia Korobchynska, Deputy Director of the Healthcare Department of Vinnytsia City Council, took part in the international trip. The delegation comprised representatives from the following healthcare institutions: Vinnytsia City Clinical Hospital No. 1, the Vinnytsia Regional Cardiology Centre, four municipal primary healthcare centres, and the City Medical and Diagnostic Centre.

The delegation visited a number of healthcare facilities in Lublin, including Lublin University Hospital No. 4, the SANITAS Medical Centre, the WSI Institute of Medicine, the University Children’s Hospital, the Luxmed Medical Centre, and the Provincial Specialist Hospital. A meeting was also held at the Lublin City Council’s Centre for International Cooperation.

During the visits, the delegation from Vinnytsia familiarised themselves with the functioning of individual departments, the organisation of work within the facilities, modern medical equipment, and the solutions used in the Polish healthcare system.

The programme also included a meeting with Krzysztof Stanowski, Director of the Centre for International Cooperation, and the team responsible for international programmes and projects. The delegation members were briefed on the office’s activities, European projects being implemented by the city of Lublin, and opportunities for international cooperation. Representatives from Lublin shared their experience of implementing partnership, educational and social projects.

‘It was a truly useful and interesting trip, which opened up many opportunities for our specialists. We familiarised ourselves with the healthcare system of our neighbour, Poland; we saw hospital wards with our own eyes and spoke with medical staff and patients. We are taking some of these practices back with us to Vinnytsia to implement them in our hospitals. We would like to thank our partner city for its hospitality and for sharing its experience and achievements. We look forward to further expanding our cooperation and implementing joint projects in the field of healthcare,' said Nataliia Korobchynska, Deputy Director of the Healthcare Department of Vinnytsia City Council and Head of the Strategic Planning and Healthcare Development Division.

With the support of the City of Karlsruhe, medical facilities have received 20 height-adjustable beds and the same number of bedside tables, as well as various types of rehabilitation equipment – exercise machines, parallel bars and ergometers.

'The majority of the equipment received as part of the humanitarian aid shipment from Karlsruhe is being sent to the rehabilitation ward of Vinnytsia City Clinical Hospital No. 1. The ward has 60 beds, and every month the medical staff there assist around 130 patients, effectively helping them return to a full life following their injuries. Our twin city of Karlsruhe and another German city, Münster, which is a partner of Vinnytsia, are not helping our hospitals for the first time, including the Vinnytsia City Rehabilitation Centre at City Clinical Hospital No. 1. This assistance is truly essential for our facilities, as we have qualified specialists and patients who require such support, and now, thanks to international support, we have a sufficient amount of modern equipment,' noted Nataliia Korobchynska, Deputy Director of the Health Department of Vinnytsia City Council and Head of the Strategic Planning and Health Development Division.

As part of the aid from Karlsruhe, the city’s main heat supply company also received components and over 200 metres of pre-insulated pipes.

According to the municipal enterprise Vinnytsiamiskteploenerho, such support from Vinnytsia’s German twin town is extremely valuable. The equipment will enable the rapid resolution of emergencies on the heating networks and ensure consumers receive high-quality and reliable services.

Representatives of the Podilska Hromada Community Foundation coordinated the receipt of the shipment in Vinnytsia.

‘Our twin city, Karlsruhe, regularly helps our community during these difficult times of full-scale invasion. This humanitarian aid will support the enterprise Vinnytsiamiskteploenerho, Vinnytsia City Clinical Hospital No. 1 and other medical facilities. Our community is grateful for this support,' said Olena Danilova, director of the Podilska Hromada Community Foundation.

As Mayor Serhii Morhunov noted, through such practical actions, Münster continues to demonstrate its support for Ukraine and Vinnytsia during these difficult times.

'The shipment contained 60 sets of school furniture, including desks and chairs. For the community’s hospitals, it included hospital beds and rehabilitation equipment. The humanitarian aid was organised with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) as part of the Programme to Assist Ukrainian Municipalities. We thank our German partners for their constant support and solidarity. We value our friendship,' wrote the community leader on his Facebook page.

The shipment consisted mainly of rehabilitation equipment – new multifunctional beds, exercise machines for restoring function in the upper and lower limbs, therapy couches, and furniture for equipping hospital wards. Part of the aid was delivered to the Vinnytsia City Clinical Emergency Hospital, and the rest to City Clinical Hospital No. 1.

'In particular, today we received 20 modern beds from our German partners, complete with anti-bedsore anatomical mattresses,' said Valerii Mazur, Director of the Vinnytsia City Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medical Care. 'Such equipment is in high demand across various wards where we treat and rehabilitate both military personnel and civilians. With its help, we will be able to improve conditions for in-patient care, which will in turn help speed up their recovery and return to a full life. On behalf of the entire community, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the municipality of Münster for the humanitarian support provided.'

On the same day, aid was also unloaded near Lyceum No. 35. School furniture for educational institutions was delivered here. In total, there were over 60 sets – comprising desks and chairs.

'Throughout the full-scale war, the community’s education sector has received substantial support from our twin towns and partners. In many cases, this has taken the form of school furniture, and sometimes teaching equipment for classrooms,' says Oksana Yatsenko, Director of the Education Department at Vinnytsia City Council. 'At present, we will use the aid from Münster primarily to upgrade educational facilities. For us, it is invaluable, as it allows us, within the constraints of a limited budget – where the lion’s share of resources is rightly allocated to supporting the security and defence forces – to modernise the material and technical infrastructure of schools and create a comfortable environment for the education and safety of our pupils.'

This latest humanitarian shipment from the municipality of Münster proves once again that friendly relations are not limited by distance or borders. Every parcel delivered is a testament to unity and a significant contribution to the resilience of our community and Ukraine as a whole.

Vladyslav Skalskyy, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia, noted: 'It is important for us to study foreign medical practices, as this primarily improves the quality and standards of medicine, facilitates development in the most up-to-date and leading technologies and treatment methods, and this is absolutely essential when there is a war in the country. Secondly, such a visit involves communication, the exchange of experience and further integration into the European medical community. It means optimisation, modernisation and the opportunity to introduce something new and guaranteed to be effective. This is a case where we are not merely establishing communication, but representing the community and the country at the level of the global medical community.'

He also took the opportunity to thank the team from the German partner city for the support Vinnytsia has received since the start of the full-scale war. During this time, the two sides have built up a track record of cooperation and implemented a number of joint projects.

During their visit to UKM, the delegation from Vinnytsia had the opportunity to view presentations, tour the departments of general, visceral and transplant surgery, and the state-of-the-art robotics centre. They also took part in a discussion with university researchers on the possibilities of modern medicine and the impact on it of the rapidly changing medical technology market. During the discussions, the German doctors were interested in the experience gained by their Vinnytsia colleagues during the war.

According to Nataliia Korobchynska, Deputy Director of the City Council’s Department of Healthcare, Vinnytsia already has established cooperation with German doctors, and the focus is now on deepening this partnership.

‘Thanks to our partnerships, specialists from Münster University Hospital, Vinnytsia Emergency Hospital and City Clinical Hospital No. 1 are currently exchanging expertise. They work in the fields of traumatology, reconstructive surgery, vascular surgery and infection control. We have also received the latest treatment and rehabilitation equipment from our partners. This includes, in particular, VAC systems, which accelerate wound healing, a complex for musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and paediatric beds,' says Nataliia Korobchynska.

According to her, deepening cooperation with Münster University Hospital offers extensive opportunities for mutual knowledge exchange and the acquisition of new methods for treating injuries and infectious complications.

During the visit, it was agreed that specialists from Vinnytsia will soon be able to learn surgical techniques in the Surgery 3.0 format in the fields of regenerative and restorative medicine.

Throughout the event, participants took part in panel discussions, start-up presentations and themed networking sessions. It is precisely these formats that allow participants not only to discuss trends, but also to work directly with solution developers and potential partners.

During the visit, the delegation also held a series of working meetings, during which they discussed opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy, medicine, digitalisation and the implementation of innovative technologies.

'We viewed the conference primarily as an opportunity to expand partnerships in the energy sector – the implementation of modern technologies using renewable energy sources – and in medicine – the improvement of rehabilitation work aimed at rapid recovery and a person’s return to normal life. It is precisely these key themes that are important not only for Vinnytsia, but for Ukraine as a whole. We have our own experience and are open to exchanging information and further cooperation, drawing on the best European practices for a sustainable and innovative future,' noted Vladyslav Skalskyy.

In parallel with the event programme in Münster, tests were carried out on public warning systems—both via mobile networks and through the city’s siren system. This gave European partners the opportunity to experience first-hand the security context in which Ukrainian communities currently operate.

A practical outcome of the visit was an agreement on cooperation with Münster University Hospital — one of the region’s leading medical centres, serving over 2.2 million residents. In the near future, doctors from Vinnytsia will have the opportunity to learn from their German colleagues, particularly in the implementation of Surgery 3.0 approaches.

A key part of the programme was a visit to Arnhem CleanTech Park (Netherlands) — an innovation hub that brings together business, academia and government around projects in the fields of clean technology, the energy transition and the circular economy. The park has a unique feature. Due to the inability to connect new users to the power grid, the main focus here is on developing new energy management policies, actively testing hydrogen-based technologies and so-called flow batteries that do not contain scarce metals (in particular lithium). Overall, the park’s ecosystem closely resembles the concept of our ‘Crystal’ Innovation and Technology Park.

'As we are developing industrial, innovation and technology parks within our community, it was important to learn from the experience of such collaboration between business and academia. Furthermore, the companies that presented their projects and activities to us are open to cooperation and new experiences in partnership with us. We are working on exploring these issues and considering all the opportunities that can be implemented in the near future,' emphasised Vladyslav Skalskyy.

Participation in such international events and working visits to partner cities is a tool for direct access to practical solutions and proven models that are already in use in European communities. It is through such contacts that the community can implement innovations more quickly, form partnerships and improve the effectiveness of its own projects.

The document was signed by Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov and Acting Head of the EU4Reconstruction Programme, Stream 2, Taras Sluchyk.

Vinnytsia has become one of four partner cities in the flagship international technical assistance programme, which also includes Dnipro, Kremenchuk and Mykolaiv.

Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov noted that Vinnytsia's participation in this project was the result of our community's long-term cooperation with international partners, as well as the effective work of Vinnytsia City Council team in various areas.

'The EU4Reconstruction programme is being implemented on the initiative of the Danish government and several other countries, including Germany, France and Lithuania. The total grant amount is €37 million, and Vinnytsia was among the four winning communities selected in the competition. The memorandum signed today provides for cooperation in three main areas. The first is expert support in updating the community development strategy, which we are currently working on. The second is new approaches to the preparation and implementation of public investment projects, in particular the preparation of pre-project documentation and technical and economic justifications. We have a number of such large projects, and the support of our partners will allow us to approach all preparatory procedures as professionally as possible. And, in fact, the third is the corporatisation of individual municipal enterprises, which provides for more modern approaches to management, finance and transparency of their work. We expect that over the next three years, this cooperation will help strengthen the institutional capacity of the community and prepare high-quality projects for the development of our city. We are actively working to expand friendly and partnership relations with European countries and communities. Therefore, participation in this project demonstrates that we are trusted as a territorial community and are seen as a reliable partner for the implementation of future projects and cooperation,' said Serhii Morhunov.

After signing the memorandum, an official meeting was held between the city leadership and the EU4Reconstruction Stream 2 programme delegation, Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish Embassy in Ukraine Lars Olaf Søvndahl Petersen, and Development Advisor at the Danish Embassy Vasyl Zalishchuk. The parties discussed key activities that Vinnytsia will implement with the support of the programme in 2026–2028.

The partnership between Vinnytsia and the EU4Reconstruction Programme, Stream 2, provides for long-term cooperation aimed at strengthening the city's capacity to plan, prepare and implement infrastructure projects in line with European standards.

Key areas of cooperation:

• Development of a public investment management system. This means improving the selection and preparation of infrastructure projects, improving the quality of project documentation, and creating clear approaches to determining development priorities. This approach will help the city to attract funding more effectively and implement projects that have the greatest impact on community development

• Strategic planning for city development. Joint efforts are aimed at strengthening the analytical and management tools of the city authorities, helping to formulate long-term plans and development strategies, and establishing effective monitoring of their implementation.

• Transformation of the public utility sector. Cooperation will focus on introducing modern elements of corporate governance in public utility companies. In particular, increasing management transparency, strengthening control systems and improving internal management processes. This will improve the efficiency of enterprises and the quality of services.

'It is important for us that the support meets the specific needs and challenges of the city. For our part, we will do everything to ensure that Vinnytsia's strengths are known not only here, but throughout Ukraine and beyond. I believe that over the next three years we will be able to implement joint projects that the city will be able to present as best practices at the national and international levels,' said Taras Sluchyk, Acting Head of EU4Reconstruction Stream 2.

The active phase of cooperation will begin in April 2026. To support the city on an ongoing basis, experts in strategic planning and public investment management will work in Vinnytsia City Council.

For reference. EU4Reconstruction is a joint initiative of the European Union (EU), Denmark, Germany, France, and Lithuania aimed at supporting the strategic, inclusive and EU-compliant reconstruction of Ukraine. The project strengthens governance, transparency and institutional capacity of Ukraine's reconstruction system — from national reforms to implementation at the community level — so that reconstruction works towards sustainable development and European integration.

The initiative is being implemented jointly by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Expertise France and the Central Project Management Agency of Lithuania (CPVA).

Cooperation with Vinnytsia City Council will be carried out within the framework of EU4Reconstruction Stream 2, which is being implemented jointly by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CPVA.

During the forum, participants discussed the restoration of cities and critical infrastructure, energy and sustainable development, economic cooperation and investment, the development of the agricultural sector, the introduction of technology and innovation, as well as humanitarian and social projects.

During the official opening of the forum, Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov spoke as the head of the Chamber of Large Cities of the Association of Ukrainian Cities. He emphasised the ability of Ukrainian communities to implement complex infrastructure solutions even in wartime and invited international partners to engage in systematic cooperation in the reconstruction and modernisation of cities.

'Despite the war, we are thinking in terms of reconstruction and development. Ukrainian communities have proven their managerial maturity: we know how to implement projects, work transparently, report, take responsibility and achieve measurable results. We are currently developing a new model for Vinnytsia – with energy autonomy, digital management and a modern environmental policy. We invite international partners to join us in designing solutions and implementing projects. Partnership with Ukrainian communities is an investment in solutions that work even in the most difficult conditions,' emphasised Serhii Morhunov.

During the discussion panel ‘Big Cities – Drivers of Reconstruction,’ which focused on systemic solutions, urban management, and attracting investment, Serhii Morhunov spoke about Vinnytsia's intentions to develop distributed generation and local autonomous energy systems, digital infrastructure, and environmental protection.

'We can no longer rely on a centralised energy supply system, so we are actively developing distributed generation: local solar stations, energy storage systems, microgrids for hospitals, schools and water utilities. This is not a temporary solution, but a new vision for the city's infrastructure, which provides stability for business, predictability for investors and safety for people,‘ said Serhii Morhunov. ’At the same time, we view the city as a digital system and a security system: we are creating DATA platforms and looking for new integrated solutions to strengthen the cyber protection of critical infrastructure. Ecology and resources are another area and another important system, which includes water, energy, waste, air quality, and local food. We are working on modernising waste processing and water treatment, developing air quality control, supporting local farming and climate adaptation, focusing on European approaches to resource management.'

The forum programme included business networking: meetings with representatives of local ROTARY clubs, diplomatic missions, international investors and associations, representatives of Spanish municipalities, regional and national deputies, as well as the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

‘This platform provided an opportunity to talk to experts in areas that are of interest to cities for development. I met with representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Entrepreneurship, the FIEM Foundation, Deloitte, the Spanish association SERCOBE, and others,’ said Serhii Morhunov.

During the event, the Vinnytsia delegation also presented infrastructure, social and investment projects to the European community, held individual B2B meetings, and established new contacts with international organisations, businesses and foundations in order to gain support in finding partners for the reconstruction and development of the community.

'For the second time, we have delivered aid from British volunteers to families registered with the Vinnytsia City Social Services Centre – these are families who, for various reasons, find themselves in difficult circumstances. We support them on an ongoing basis, including through cooperation with various partner organisations and the public sector. Currently, these families have received rechargeable flashlights to light their homes during power outages. We would like to thank the British organisation Helping Our Ukrainian Friends for their support of Ukrainian families, their compassion and solidarity with Ukraine,' said Nataliia Dobrovolska, director of the Vinnytsia City Social Services Centre.

The LED lamps provided by volunteers are quite powerful and can illuminate a large room during a power outage. The lamp automatically turns on when the main power source is turned off. It can operate continuously for up to 6 hours.

'Thank you very much for your support, which will be very useful during power cuts. My children and I moved to Vinnytsia from Siverskodonetsk, which is currently an occupied city in the Luhansk region. We live in a dormitory. We are grateful to the foreign volunteers, Vinnytsia City Council and the social services centre for supporting our family,' said Ms Liubov.

Oksana, a resident of Vinnytsia, also received help from volunteers.

‘After my husband died, my children and I were left alone. We often don't have enough money to cover our basic needs, but we receive constant support from social services and community organisations. We are grateful that we are not left alone in such difficult times,’ the woman shared.