The Ambassador of Ukraine has called for local government to help his war-torn country during an address to the National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association.

Speaking to delegates in Canberra on Tuesday, Vasyl Myroshnychenko said cities around the world have been reaching out to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

“Today as never before our cities and out communities need international help to rebuild,” he said.

“At the time being we rely on international help and this is where I would like to encourage you to look into the opportunity of building those relationships.”

Any assistance is appreciated, the Ambassador said.

“If there is an opportunity to fundraise in the community and help rebuild a school, a hospital, there is ongoing need,” he said.

Australia’s first sister city relationship with Ukraine

Mr Myroshnychenko thanked the City of Tea Tree Gully in Adelaide’s outer north-east, which two  weeks ago signed a sister city partnership with Borodyanka, a suburban town with a population of about 24,000 residents near Kyiv and an important freight and logistics route to Warsaw.

The town has been devasted by the war, with about 3,000 residents displaced.

He also thanked City of Melbourne for last month severing ties with its former sister city of St Petersburg.

What I hope to achieve is potentially when the war stops is that we can exchange some of our expertise and technologies and help them rebuild.

Mayor Marijka Ryan

City of Tea Tree Gully Mayor Marijka Ryan,whose parents are Ukraine-born, said a councillor put forward the idea and it was unanimously supported by council.

“The Ambassador was approached and he helped broker all the agreements and he found an appropriate sister city for us,” she told Government News.

The agreement, formalised via an online video meeting, is the first between an Australian and Ukrainian city and aims to foster cultural exchange and mutual support. It also provides opportunities for collaboration in education, technology and professional development. 

She said she hoped the relationship would offer friendship and renewed hope to the people of Borodyanka.

“What I hope to achieve is potentially when the war stops is that we can exchange some of our expertise and technologies and help them rebuild,” she added.

“We don’t have (large amounts of money) to send … this is for support … to let them know that there are people on the other side of the earth that care about them.”

Meanwhile, City of Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp said the termination of the City’s relationship with St Petersburg sent a clear signal that Melbourne stood with Ukraine and condemned all acts of war, violence and aggression.

International effort

Mr Myroshnychenko said countries including Denmark, the Netherlands, Turkey and Britain have been “adopting” Ukrainian cities and offering assistance designing and planning rebuilt cities.

“I’m encouraging the Australian government to adopt a region to help with reconstruction, that help can come from different levels it can come from local, municipalities, regional governments, the federal government,” he said.

Mr Myroshnychenko said he hoped one day he would be able to return to the ALGA assembly under happier circumstances.

“I hope there will be a day when I will be able to bring a delegation of local governments who will be able to be with you to learn from you and also share with you how we managed to rebuild the country,” he said.