Connecticut, Donetsk “Sister States”

Darya Lavinskaya/Adobe Stock

Governors Ned Lamont and Vadym Filashkin of Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast signed a sister state agreement in a virtual meeting on August 7, establishing a collaboration on social, cultural, economic, humanitarian, and educational exchanges.

Donetsk is a region in Ukraine’s east, its most populous oblast (province), and has been on the front line since the beginning of the Russian onslaught, now in its fourth year. Fighting is no longer within a few kilometers of Siversk, Weston’s sister city, but on its very outskirts.

Seven Fairfield County cities and towns have Sister City Partnerships in Ukraine, relationships established by Ukraine Aid International, the humanitarian nonprofit. Marshall Mayer, the organization’s executive director, said the partnerships have delivered more than $2.5 million in aid to Ukraine since the program launched in 2022.

Mr. Mayer said donations have supported over 450,000 civilians by providing water and heating systems, healthcare services, emergency vehicles, repairs to dozens of apartment buildings, and educational technology, holiday gifts, and camps for children.

Mr. Mayer said the state partnership is “historic,” the first of its kind, and creates “a formal bond to help rebuild lives” in Ukraine.

“Ukraine is fighting for its own freedom and freedom around the world,” said Governor Lamont. He pointed out that Governor Filashkin and members of his regional military administration were attending the meeting in a bunker.

Governor Filashkin said, “the importance of such an event is hard to overstate. For the past 11 years the war has become part of our everyday reality.” He said the region is under constant attack and that more than 4,000 civilians have been killed, including 290 children.

“The region will hardly manage without the support of our friends,” he said, and suggested viewing a brief Ukraine Aid International video depicting destruction in his province.

The state partnership is a privately funded initiative. No taxpayer dollars are involved. Contributions can be made here.

Congressional and civic leaders

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman John Larson, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro were on the virtual call, each avowing support for Ukraine, pledging to work for more, and expressing admiration for President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Leaders of the Connecticut municipalities with sister city partnerships were also on the call. In addition to Siversk’s partnership with Weston, similar agreements are in place between Lyman and Westport, Druzhkivka and Ridgefield, Kostiantynivka and Fairfield, Kramatorsk and Stamford, Izium and Greenwich, and Sviatohirsk and Easton.

Easton First Selectman David Bindelglass said his 2023 trip to Donetsk was “a life changing experience.” Dr. Bindelglass said the constant refrain he heard was: “We can’t wait for an opportunity to repay you.”

Mayor Volodymyr Rybalkin of Sviatohirsk described Easton as a “key partner, and said, “we will keep fighting for us and everyone’s freedom.”