A delegation from Kherson is visiting the Federal City of Bonn for the first time. The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson is linked to the federal city by a solidarity partnership. Aid projects for the city of Kherson, which has been severely affected by the war, have been running for almost a year. As part of a solidarity partnership, the city of Bonn and its partners are supporting the city in southern Ukraine.

The core elements are the donation partnership "Bonn helps Kherson" with the organization "Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe", the donation of municipal vehicles, support for a collection of donations in kind by ZeSaBo, cooperation with associations and initiatives as well as direct exchange with the partners in Kherson. In addition to the Deputy Mayor of the city, Vitalii Bielobrov, the delegation includes Tetiana Banshchykova, Head of the Department for International and Intermunicipal Cooperation of the City of Kherson, Vladyslav Kondratov, Chairman of the Dnipro District Council in Kherson, and Nataliia Kraska, Head of the Department for Combating and Preventing Domestic and Gender-based Violence. The visit will be supported by the Blue-Yellow Cross Association, which will accompany the delegation with an interpreter.

The Ukrainian guests arrived on Sunday, February 25, 2024, and were welcomed by Mayor Katja Dörner at a joint dinner in the "Stiefel" restaurant. The first day of the delegation on Monday, February 26, was dedicated to an exchange on the topics of infrastructure and civil protection. After a visit to the Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule, where the visitors exchanged ideas with students and the school management, they continued on to various municipal utility sites. Anja Wenmakers, Managing Director of SWB Bus und Bahn, showed the delegation the traffic control center on Thomas-Mann-Straße. "Public transport has collapsed in many large cities in Ukraine due to the war. But prospects are needed to get people safely through their everyday lives again as soon as possible. That's why we were happy to share our ideas on the mobility turnaround and explore possible ways to help. All this, combined with an insight into the heart of our transport infrastructure," said Wenmakers during the welcome address.

The tour then continued to the Haus der Netze on Karlstraße, where BonnNetz Managing Director Urs Reitis informed the guests about the creation of local infrastructure, energy management and water and heat supply. Reitis explained: "Running water, electricity and heated homes are basic necessities and a valuable commodity. Our guests from Kherson and we, as operators of critical infrastructure, are united in our mission to ensure a safe and functioning supply at all times."

Due to the war in Ukraine, however, this is currently taking place under completely different conditions. It is therefore a matter of course for BonnNetz to support the local wastewater and drinking water supplier in Kherson as part of its own solidarity partnership. "Of course, we are happy to share our knowledge and experience and help our colleagues in Kherson with deliveries of materials that are urgently needed to restore the destroyed infrastructure," continued the BonnNetz head.

The next stop was Bonnorange, where division manager Richard Münz presented the vehicle fleet and discussed infrastructure in the event of a disaster. Right next door to the Bonn professional fire department, Fire Brigade Chief Jochen Stein welcomed the delegation to Fire Station 1. During a tour of the station and the control center, he explained how the Bonn fire department works and is organized. He also presented the guests with another vehicle donation: a rescue transport vehicle and a command vehicle. The two vehicles have been taken out of service by the Bonn fire department. However, as the vehicles have always been well maintained, they are fully operational. Deputy Mayor Vitalii Bielobrov had already confirmed the urgent need for the vehicles in advance and expressed his great gratitude for the donation.

As a matter of principle, the Bonn fire department now thinks of the partner city of Kherson first when it comes to decommissioning vehicles. Normally, the vehicles are auctioned off or sold on. The two vehicles are the sixth and seventh that the Bonn fire department has donated to Ukraine. Three ambulances and an emergency ambulance went there back in spring 2020. A crew transport vehicle followed last summer 2023.

The picture shows Mayor Katja Dörner and her counterpart Vitalii Bielobrov signing the memorandum of understanding for further and more intensive cooperation as part of the solidarity partnership with Kherson.

Mayor Katja Dörner and her counterpart Vitalii Bielobrov, Deputy Mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for further and more intensive cooperation within the framework of the solidarity partnership with Kherson.

The delegation from Kherson met for a round table with politicians, the city administration, business and civil society in the Old Town Hall to discuss the prospects and goals of the partnership. Mayor Katja Dörner thanked the delegation for the opportunity to gain a personal insight into the extremely difficult situation of the people in Kherson. The Consul General of Ukraine, Iryna Shum, also took part in the meeting.

This was immediately followed by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in a festive setting. The existing contacts within the framework of the solidarity partnership are to be continued, strengthened and further developed. The signing ceremony was accompanied by music from the Ukrainian choir "Namysto" conducted by Yevhenia Burlaka.

Katja Dörner took the opportunity to once again promote the solidarity partnership and support for Ukraine as well as for those who have fled to Bonn from there. The Mayor expressly thanked the committed citizens of Bonn, the local associations and initiatives, the Ukrainian community in Bonn, as well as the schools and church communities. "Please maintain your commitment to the people of Kherson," appealed the Mayor of Bonn, adding: "With our partnership, we are sending a signal of solidarity in difficult times. We want to provide concrete humanitarian aid and support the reconstruction of municipal structures - with even more commitment and energy in the future," said the Mayor. 

After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Deputy Mayor Vitalii Bielobrov took the floor: "Kherson and Bonn came together a year ago. During this time, strong ties have grown between the municipalities, and Bonn has repeatedly provided us with decisive support during such a difficult time for our city. Today we are signing the Memorandum, which is an important step in the development and broadening of the horizons for further partnership between the municipalities. We are very grateful for your support, appreciate your help and believe in further fruitful cooperation!"

Cooperation is to be intensified in the following areas: Encounters between citizens; municipal exchange of experience and reconstruction of municipal administrative structures; exchange in the fields of culture, youth, education and sport; joint projects should contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) wherever possible. The partnership can be expanded to include other topics in consultation. The Memorandum of Understanding can be viewed  here (opens in a new tab).