Kharkiv and Turin have become sister cities
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo signed an Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between the two cities.
The ceremony took place at the Turin City Council and was attended by council members, municipal officials, Vladimir Voronov, Ukraine’s Consul General in Milan, and a delegation from Kharkiv.
During his speech, Ihor Terekhov described the situation in the city, the daily shelling, the destruction of homes and infrastructure, and the challenges of working under constant threat. He emphasized that Kharkiv is not only withstanding constant shelling but is also planning its reconstruction.
The mayor also expressed his gratitude to Turin for the assistance already provided, particularly for the buses.
“Some might say, ‘So what - we got some buses?’ But no. We’ve been given the right to live. When we had a total blackout during 25-degree frosts, when there was no heating and the power supply wasn’t working, your buses saved the lives of Kharkiv residents, our children, and internally displaced persons. And for that, we are deeply grateful to you,” said Ihor Terekhov.
The mayor of Kharkiv also emphasized that the partnership with Turin is important for the city not only as humanitarian support but also as a demonstration of European solidarity with Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine is currently defending not only its own independence but also the democratic values of all of Europe. And that is precisely why cooperation with European cities is of particular importance to Kharkiv.
In his speech, Stefano Lo Russo emphasized that supporting Ukraine is a matter of defending freedom and democracy, and that the Ukrainians’ struggle concerns all of Europe.
“The struggle of the Ukrainians is not just the struggle of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. It is a European struggle. It is a matter of defending European values. We very often take freedom and democracy for granted, but we must remember that we have to fight for them,” said Stefano Lo Russo.
The signed agreement provides for the development of cooperation between Kharkiv and Turin in the areas of urban management, transportation, reconstruction, education, culture, healthcare, innovation, and humanitarian aid.
Ihor Terekhov emphasized that the official partnership marks a new phase in relations between the cities and should yield new practical benefits for the residents of Kharkiv.
