Global Partnerships

Promoting international cooperation to support Zaporizhzhia’s resilience, recovery, and development is our top priority. We are also committed to expanding partnerships with cities around the world to foster Zaporizhzhia’s integration into the global community.

Sister Cities

Zaporizhzhia sees itself as part of a democratic, united, and prosperous Europe. We stand for the same values and aspirations as European cities—something we experience firsthand through our collaboration with twin towns.

Our city has a long history of twinning, dating back to 1953 when Zaporizhzhia signed its first town twinning agreement with Lahti, Finland. When Russia escalated its brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, our sister cities—particularly Magdeburg and Oberhausen, Germany—were among the first to respond. They quickly organized and sent humanitarian aid to support internally displaced people in Zaporizhzhia.

Sister cities of Zaporizhzhia:

  • Lahti, Finland (1953)
  • Belfort, France (1967)
  • Birmingham, United Kingdom (1973)
  • Linz, Austria (1983)
  • Oberhausen, Germany (1986)
  • Magdeburg, Germany (2008)
  • Ashdod, Israel (2011)

Each of these cities has shown genuine solidarity with Ukraine and our community.

Our cooperation with sister cities is constantly evolving—from humanitarian assistance to collaborative development-oriented projects. A few success stories are highlighted in this presentation.

Benefactors and Dedicated Volunteers

Beyond sister cities, our partners include regional and local governments, charitable foundations, and volunteer groups.

  • Municipalities of Abruzzo Region, Italy – Provided shelter for refugees from southern and eastern Ukraine (2022)
  • Pomeranian Voivodeship and City of Gdańsk, Poland – Donated ambulances to municipal hospitals (2022–2023)
  • Tyrol, Austria – Also donated an ambulance responding to our request (2023)
  • Isle of Wight, United Kingdom – Initiated dialogue for cultural cooperation, with a special interest in the iconic Khortytsia Island (2023)
  • Polish-American foundation “Via Stella” based in Sopot – Donated ambulances and power generators (2024)
  • Ukrainian Action, UK-USA – Assistance for hospitals and emergency services (since 2022)

Apart from that, there are volunteers from Germany, Spain, Poland, the USA, the United Kingdom, and other countries. These dedicated individuals not only raise funds to support Zaporizhzhia but also personally deliver the aid to our frontline city.

Humanitarian and Development Partners

The City Development Institute is the main municipal institution responsible for working with donors and other partners. To date, we have collaborated with more than 30 international and foreign organizations.

Key partners include:

UNHCR, IOM Ukraine, UNICEF, Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (THW), GIZ GmbH, USAID’s DG East and UCBI projects, Global Empowerment Mission, FHI 360, People In Need, Blau-Gelbes Kreuz, and many others.

Together, we work to ensure that every partnership delivers the greatest possible impact for Zaporizhzhia’s resilience, recovery, and further development.