Imatra and the Ukrainian city of Nizhyn start cooperation

The city of Imatra is entering into a partnership and cooperation agreement with the Ukrainian city of Nizhyn.

- The city of Imatra has already shown its sympathy towards Ukraine in different ways. Cooperation with Nizhyn is one new and concrete option to be a support, contact manager Tea Laitimo says.

The initiative to establish bilateral relations between Imatra and the Ukrainian city came from the ambassador of Ukraine From Olga Dibrova, when he visited Imatra in July. The ambassador hoped that Imatra could find a similar type of city by the water as a partner.

In September, Ambassador Dibrova suggested Nizhyn from the Chernihiv region as a partner city.

The cooperation agreement drafted by the cities is to be decided by the city council on Monday.

At the same time, the cooperation is a response to the council initiative submitted by basic Finns, which proposed that Imatra acquire a twinning city in Ukraine. At this stage, it is not a twinning city agreement, but a cooperation and partnership agreement, through which concrete cooperation is sought.

Representatives of the city of Nizhyn are ready to arrive at the signing ceremony in Imatra in early 2023.

Aid shipment in progress

The city of Imatra has already approached the city of Nizhyn and asked if the townspeople could be helped in some way.

- They wanted aggregates, heaters and power stations for the support points organized for the townspeople. We are now trying to acquire these devices and we are trying to get the aid shipment going in the near future, because the winter has been predicted to be tough for the Ukrainians, says Laitimo.

For more information:

Liaison Director Tea Laitimo, teaimatra.fi (tea[dot]laitimo[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 020 617 2212