Espoo’s Ukrainian partner city visited the capital region
This week, Espoo hosted a delegation from the Ukrainian City of Kryvyi Rih, including representatives of the local city council and university.
In May 2023, the City of Espoo signed a partnership agreement with the City of Kryvyi Rih. For us in Espoo, the partnership has been a way to show our solidarity with Ukraine during the war. Kryvyi Rih is the centre of Ukraine’s extractive industries, the eighth largest city in the country and the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The truth is that war clearly shows who is a friend and who is an enemy. I thank you for your support. Kryvyi Rih has found a reliable partner and friend in Espoo. Our joint projects strengthen the relationship between Ukraine and Finland as a whole,” said Sergii Miliutin, Deputy Mayor of Kryvyi Rih.
At their meeting, Espoo’s Mayor Kai Mykkänen and Deputy Mayor of Kryvyi Rih Sergii Miliutin highlighted the importance of continuing joint projects in the field of culture and education and increasing business cooperation.
“We stand by your side in Ukraine’s heroic fight for freedom. Our hands-on collaboration at the city level holds great potential for connecting people, mutual learning and support in the rebuilding efforts. We help facilitate connections between companies in Espoo and Kryvyi Rih. Together we are stronger,” said Kai Mykkänen, Mayor of Espoo.
Partnership shows in culture, education and urban development
In Espoo, the delegation learned about educational solutions at Otaniemen lukio and Aalto University, where they explored the architecture of the Väre building and the ePowerHub laboratory, among other things. The visitors were interested in the Finnish education system and the multidisciplinary research environments at Aalto University. Business Finland enabled business representatives to meet with the representatives of the city and the region.
Mutual discussions and influences are visible in the daily lives of the partner cities and support the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Since 2021, the City of Kryvyi Rih has organised the Days of Finnish Literature and Music to introduce local residents to Finnish history and culture. Through these events, citizens have become familiar with the works of well-known Finnish cultural figures, such as author Aleksis Kivi, poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg, composer Jean Sibelius, and many others.
Finnish culinary traditions have also been showcased in Kryvyi Rih through local food festivals. Cultural exchange between the cities has been further enriched by youth music groups from Kryvyi Rih, who have performed in Espoo on several occasions.
A new form of artistic collaboration is now underway, as a mural will be created in Espoo by the renowned Ukrainian artist Igor Vetushinsky, originally from Kryvyi Rih. The mural, entitled ‘Feels Like Home’, has been designed in collaboration with Ukrainians currently living in Espoo.
All general upper secondary schools in Espoo have a partner school in Kryvyi Rih. In addition, schools, colleges and universities in Kryvyi Rih have established partnerships with educational institutions in Espoo. Young people from both cities participate in English-language conversation clubs online, where they learn about each other’s culture, history and daily life through dialogue. Educators from both cities also share best practices to support the development of innovative teaching methods.
The Ukrainian delegation also participated in a Finnish rebuilding forum, where the rebuilding of the Kryvyi Rih university campus was discussed.
Enquiries
Milla Ovaska, Head of International Affairs, tel. +358 43 8244911, milla.ovaska@espoo.fi.
