By Elizabeth Barhydt
In an effort to establish a long-term cultural relationship and to provide more immediate support and assistance to the war-torn city of Izyum, a sister city program has been established with Greenwich. Greenwich native Olga Litvinenko, who has been working extensively in Ukraine, spearheaded this initiative with Dr. Inna Lazar through the organization they founded last year, USA for Ukraine (USA for Ukraine’s homepage at www.usaforukr.org).
The sister city program between Greenwich and Izyum was made official on Monday, April 17th at a press conference and reading of the official proclamation by First Selectman Fred Camillo at Greenwich Town Hall. Representatives from Izyum joined via zoom.
Greenwich’s new sister city is considered the gateway to Donbas region, a Russian-speaking area of Ukraine whose complete capture has been one of Russia’s key war aims since the beginning of the conflict. It is considered a passage to the Black Sea, and thus referred to as the Izyum passage by the Russians.
Liberated on September 10th after months of Russian occupation, it remains a concentration of war crimes, the subject of in-depth investigations by international human rights organizations. (see that story on page 10).
The sister initiative was inspired by the efforts of nearby Westport, which established a similar relationship with Lyman, Ukraine. Litvinenko championed the idea of forming a partnership between her hometown and Izyum. The Ukrainian city, which dates back to 1681, has suffered considerable damage to its infrastructure, with 100% of its industrial buildings destroyed and 80% of residential units damaged.
Camillo, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the parallels between the two towns. “We’re 62,300 people. They were close to 50,000,” he said. Camillo highlighted the devastation in Izyum, including a severely impacted hospital wing, and the need for rebuilding efforts.
Although the current global situation hampers immediate in-person cultural and educational exchanges, Camillo explained, the sister cities plan to engage virtually and explore fundraising opportunities to aid Izyum’s recovery. The long-term goal is to foster an everlasting connection, built on the exchange of culture, knowledge, and experiences, and to provide a warm welcome to Ukrainians in Greenwich.
Camillo’s proclamation of April 17th was the official beginning of the sister city relationship with Izyum, Ukraine and, he said, it reflects the town’s commitment to supporting the Ukrainian people during these tumultuous times. With this partnership, Camillo believes that Greenwich offers a beacon of hope and solidarity, as two communities find unity in the face of adversity.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke about the importance of the sister city relationship. “Some in cities like Izyum,” he explained, “have been victims of war crimes and let’s be very blunt, we’re helping a sister city here that has been a victim of crimes against humanity.” He further added that supporting Ukraine is crucial for American national security, and emphasized the need for providing assistance and resources to help the Ukrainian people.
Dr. Inna Lazar, a practicing optometrist in Greenwich with family members both fighting on the front lines and directly affected by the invasion, co-founded the nonprofit organization USA for Ukraine with Litvinenko. She passionately shared her perspective on the partnership, saying, “The establishment of a Sister Town between Greenwich and Izyum in Ukraine… represents an opportunity for us to unite as a community and build bridges, a testament to the power of unity and collaboration.”
Unfortunately Izyum’s Mayor, Valeriy Marchenko was called away to deal with an emergency and could not join the press conference via zoom as planned. In his place we heard from his associate, Maxim who expressed gratitude for the sister city relationship on behalf of Mayor Marchenko. Through Litvinenko, who translated his Ukrainian into English, he said, “We really hope that it will not only just be us standing together and supporting one another in these difficult times, but also have this true exchange of tourism, cultural knowledge, and education.”
In closing the conference, Litvinenko explained that the announcement date was chosen because it comes on the heels of Passover and Easter celebrations, as well as being Holocaust Remembrance Day. A fitting backdrop, she said, for the renewed commitment to ensuring a better life for all. She concluded by saying, “We don’t want the same thing to happen of what happened in the past. So all of us who are working together are doing it so that we have a better life for ourselves, for our children, for the next generation and so that we can continue living in humane circumstances.”
Support from Local Organizations and Elected Officials
In attendance to show support for the effort were representatives from the Greenwich Rotary, State Senator Ryan Fazio, State Representatives Hector Arzeno and Rachel Khanna, Town Clerk Jackie Budkins, Town Tax Collector Heather Smeriglio, and others.
Sally Parris, of the Greenwich Rotary, said that several weeks ago Olga Litvinenko spoke at the Greenwich Rotary Club and they “were very impressed with her endeavors.”
“In fact,” Parris went on to explain, “we’ve been following her processes over the last several months, and the Rotary, we’re trying to get all the Rotary clubs in our district to collaborate to get a matching grant from our clubs to support Olga’s efforts in the Ukraine, and we are here today to support her collaboration with the town of Greenwich and her incredible efforts.”
State Rep. Hector Arzeno said he shared Litvinenko’s enthusiasm for the sister city relationship, stating, “I participate at the Christ Church food drives that we have for Ukraine and today I am a proud citizen of Greenwich. Seeing this with Izyum and that we will be there for them and ready to support them all the way to the end, I’m sure we will win.”
The sentiment was echoed by State Rep. Rachel Khanna, who expressed her excitement for the potential cultural exchanges and collaborations between the two cities. She said, “It’s important because we need to show that we’re standing with them in their quest for peace and justice and hopefully we will. That will bring further collaboration and exchanges and information and ideas and that’s important for both Izyum and Greenwich.”
State Senator Ryan Fazio lent his support to the new partnership, emphasizing the importance of standing in solidarity with the people of Izyum and Ukraine as they face a “horrible invasion.” He lauded the efforts of the Ukrainian American community in Greenwich and Stamford, particularly Litvinenko and Lazar, who have been “unbelievable leaders in our community and for their countrymen and in Ukraine as well.
And we support their charitable efforts, which have been phenomenal, raising tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine who are under siege. There are so many reasons to support this relationship and I’m very proud of Greenwich and Izyum for the new friendship and partnership.”
As plans for a fundraiser to support Izyum are being finalized, the people of Greenwich and their counterparts in Ukraine stand united, their sister city relationship a shining example of the power of human connection, compassion, and resilience in the face of adversity.
USA for Ukraine, the organization founded by Lazar and Litvinenko, will continue to raise funds and collect donations to help those affected by the war in Ukraine.
An Exclusive Interview with Olga Litvinenko
In a recent interview, Olga Litvinenko discussed the origins of the idea, the current situation in Izyum, and the resilience of its people.
The idea of establishing a sister city relationship between Greenwich and a Ukrainian city was inspired by a similar program between Westport, CT, and Lyman, Ukraine. Olga said, “I thought the town of Greenwich should be doing something like this and being proud of our community and all the things that we continuously do to help each other and our ability to be able to help others.” Izyum was chosen because of its similarities in population, geography, and history to Greenwich. Moreover, both cities have a population filled with knowledgeable and sophisticated people living just outside a large city.
Life in Izyum remains challenging, however, Olga is inspired by the strength and resilience of the people. She said, “They don’t give up. They just keep going and they want to come back, and they want to rebuild, and they want to have their community and homes back and be able to have their children go back to school, to play and smile.”
Despite the ongoing conflict and devastation, the residents of Izyum continue to display determination and hope. Children attend school through mobile apps, and families move around to find safer locations. The establishment of a sister city relationship with Greenwich helps inspire hope in Izyum and its people.
Olga sees the sister city program as an opportunity for cultural exchange and a symbol of solidarity between the two communities. “This announcement is particularly special because it was just over a year ago when this all started, we got together and we showed that we were standing with Ukraine, and now we’re solidifying that solidarity even more so by having a twin city (or a sister city), and forever we’ll be able to have these cultural exchanges and knowledge and a home in Ukraine and vice versa,” she said.
This partnership marks an important step towards rebuilding and restoring the community of Izyum. Through collaboration and partnership, the sister city program between Greenwich and Izyum aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of the people who call these cities their homes.
Olga envisions both short-term and long-term goals for the sister city program. In the short term, fundraising efforts will help restore and rebuild Izyum, including schools, hospitals, and homes. The long-term goal is to establish deep cultural and educational exchanges between Greenwich and Izyum, allowing for high school students and cultural institutions to connect and learn from each other.
In the interview, Litvinenko explained her hopes for the sister city program, stating that her short-term goal is to fundraise and rebuild Izyum with the help of the Greenwich community, while her long-term goal is to establish a deep cultural and educational exchange between Greenwich and Izyum. This could include regular communication between high school students, artistic collaborations, and even exchanges of students for summer camp programs or high school symphony performances.
“Long term,” she explained, “it’s just really having this deep relationship and knowledge, a share of knowledge and share of cultural experiences.” Short term, USA for Ukraine is putting on a fundraiser and we may even do multiple fundraisers to facilitate the Greenwich community and companies who are based in Greenwich help rebuild Izyum. “I think that’ll be really, really special to be able to say that we, the town of Greenwich are standing with Izyum, and not only that, but we’ve helped them come back and helped the families come back and help the community come together. That’s my hope.”
Litvinenko continued, “It’s a lot of funding because there was a lot of damage, but even if we start with something – rebuilding the school, the hospital, some of the homes. We can focus on the exteriors, the windows and getting essential items to families, helping with essential heating as well. Then slowly, but surely, the families and the community is able to come home and start living their life and how they used to live before the physical war. My hope is to restore, rebuild, get them back on their feet, help them, and then long term, it’s to really to have this great relationship between the two.”
To achieve these goals, Litvinenko urges people to donate to USA for Ukraine. The organization will be working directly with the Mayor of Izyum and certified construction companies, as well as logistics providers to prioritize and rebuild the city. Through these efforts, the sister city program aims to not only provide essential support to Izyum but also foster a lasting relationship between the two cities that transcends borders and enriches both communities.
Poignant Video
In a moving visual tour, Litvinenko takes us on an immersive journey through the city of Izyum, providing a unique perspective on its schools, hospitals, and daily challenges faced by its residents. To gain a deeper understanding of Izyum’s resilience and spirit, watch the video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qxpo50iOwLFkw7zu4FxzBirkm5ujD9YO/view or on USA for Ukraine’s homepage at www.usaforukr.org.
Olga Wears Ukrainian designer, Katya Silchenko
Litvinenko also chose to make a statement at the announcement event by donning an outfit designed by renowned Ukrainian designer, Katya Silchenko.
Silchenko, the founder of the prêt-à-porter womens-wear brand “The Coat,” established her company in 2014 amidst the challenging times of revolution in Ukraine. Through her tenacity and adaptability, Silchenko’s designs have found a loyal following both in Ukraine and around the world. Her collections, known for their color blocking, sustainability, and custom tailoring, are inspired by strong, passionate women.
In a poignant nod to her homeland, Silchenko’s Spring-Summer 2023 collection was created while Ukraine defended its independence and struggled to preserve its legacy. The collection, rich with the brand’s signature color codes and traditional Ukrainian silhouettes, prints, and embroidery, was showcased in Pyrohiv, an open-air national museum of folk architecture and life.
Silchenko’s commitment to showcasing Ukrainian culture and representing her country with pride is evident in her work. As Litvinenko took to the stage in a custom piece by Silchenko, she showcased the work of those in Ukraine that are continuing on with their lives, businesses, and careers in the face of great adversity.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, The Town of Greenwich, Connecticut has established sister city relationships in multiple countries; and
WHEREAS, the city of Izyum, Ukraine has suffered terribly since the beginning of the war more than a year ago and is a place much like Greenwich close to a major population center and filled with a diverse population; and
WHEREAS, We want to show our support for Ukraine during this terrible time of war and violence as we continue to hope for peace; and
WHEREAS, a sister city relationship with Izyum would not only show Greenwich’s kinship with everyone suffering in Ukraine but also establish an everlasting connection with this city as we hope it can thrive again; and
WHEREAS, We look forward to the day when the war has ended and we can all meet together in celebration of this special relationship between our homes through the exchange of culture, knowledge and experiences; and
WHEREAS, the people of Izyum and Ukraine as a whole will always find a warm welcome for them here in Greenwich just as we know the people of Greenwich will always be welcome there.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRED CAMILLO, FIRST SELECTMAN OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH, do hereby proclaim Monday, April 17, 2023 that we have officially begun a sister city relationship with IZYUM, UKRAINE and urge all members of our community to join me in showing our support for this country during the war and embracing an everlasting solidarity with the people of our new sister city.
Izyum Mayor Requests Equipment, Infrastructure, and Support for City’s Reconstruction
Mayor Valerii Marchenko of Izyum, Ukraine, sent a heartfelt letter to the First Selectman Fred Camillo, detailing the extensive damage inflicted upon the city during the Russian-Ukrainian war and appealing for humanitarian assistance.
The letter highlights the large-scale destruction of infrastructure, civilian casualties, looting, and destruction of municipal equipment in Izyum during Russia’s hostilities and six-month occupation. As the warm season approaches, local residents have started returning to their homes, with more expected to follow suit. However, the city faces a dire shortage of financial and logistical resources.
Mayor Marchenko’s letter outlines a comprehensive list of needs to restore Izyum’s housing stock, rebuild social and critical infrastructure, and provide necessary utilities to the population. Among the requested items are specialized municipal equipment such as garbage trucks, loader cranes, graders, and police vehicles, as well as support for reconstructing schools, kindergartens, and housing.
The appeal also includes the restoration of the pedestrian bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River, repairing the street lighting network, restoring water and heating supply systems in apartment buildings, and providing office equipment for social services and administrative centers.
As the city continues to recover, Mayor Marchenko expressed gratitude in advance for Greenwich’s consideration of their request. He emphasized that the aid would expedite Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts and bring the nation closer to victory.
