World Town Twinning Week. Zaporizhzhia —Birmingham: 3,172 km of gratitude

Last Sunday of April, the world celebrates Town Twinning Day. On this occasion, we send our warmest regards from Zaporizhzhia to twin cities across the world.

Zaporizhzhia has been twinned with Birmingham, UK, since July 1973. Quite an obvious twinning since Birmingham was known as a powerful industrial city. Today, however, it is an international trade centre, a large transport hub, and a city to host numerous conferences, forums and festivals.

Our cities have much in common, and not only the image of being an industrial leader in their countries. In a celebratory publication prepared for the Independence Day of Ukraine, the British colleagues mention different things that symbolise and represent both our cities. There are many unexpected but fascinating facts about Birmingham and our native Zaporizhzhia as well.

One more interesting fact: last year, Birmingham made the first-round shortlist to host Eurovision 2023. Birmingham’s strong affiliation with Ukraine and long-term twinning with Zaporizhzhia were at the heart of the city’s bid to host the world-famous Song Contest. And Ukrainian creatives were invited to design Birmingham’s Eurovision bid logo!

These days, Birmingham hosts about one thousand Ukrainian families, mostly women and children. On the 24th of February, one-year into the Russia’s full-scale assault on our country, Birmingham’s community organisation Centrala organised a rally in support of Ukraine. Representatives of the City Council, public organisations and volunteers that have helped Ukrainians also joined the event.

We sincerely thank Birmingham for its solidarity and support. We hope that 2023 will be a year of fruitful partnership between our cities.

We also send our love and best wishes of peace and prosperity to the people of Birmingham. Have a very happy present and the most successful future!