Częstochowa
The cooperation between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Częstochowa is a long-standing partnership that has the official status of twin cities. The twinning agreement was signed on 20 November 2008 in Kamianets-Podilskyi. The agreement provided for the development of permanent mutual relations based on cooperation, friendship and partnership, with a particular focus on culture, education, youth exchanges, sports, tourism, social affairs, the economy and environmental protection.
Cultural Cooperation
One of the earliest and most enduring areas of cooperation has been cultural exchange. As part of the official partnership, exhibitions featuring Ukrainian artists were held in Częstochowa, while representatives of folk art from Kamianets-Podilskyi took part in the European Days of Folk Culture in Częstochowa. These initiatives provided an opportunity to showcase Ukrainian culture to Polish audiences and to establish direct contacts between artistic groups from the two cities.
Cultural ties have continued in recent years. In December 2023, a delegation from Kamianets-Podilskyi visited Częstochowa together with the “Zhuravlyk” National Children’s and Youth Choir. At the Municipal Cultural Centre, the choir performed a festive programme featuring Ukrainian works, Polish Christmas carols and Christmas songs. The visit was part of an international tour dedicated to expressing gratitude to European cities for their support of Ukraine.
Educational Cooperation and Youth Engagement
An important component of the partnership is cooperation between educational institutions and youth exchanges.
When the twinning agreement was concluded, the two cities identified education and youth cooperation as priority areas. The partnership envisaged creating opportunities for young people to learn more about the shared history and traditions of Ukraine and Poland, as well as to develop direct contacts and exchanges between young people.
In November 2025, a delegation from Częstochowa, headed by Rafał Piotrowski, visited Kamianets-Podilskyi. Representatives of the Polish city visited Lyceum No. 13, learned about the level of Polish language education among the students and observed how the educational process for children is organized during air-raid alerts.
During the visit, the two sides identified new areas of cooperation, including educational initiatives, support for children, rehabilitation programmes and creative exchanges.
Cooperation in Child Support and Rehabilitation
A new area of the partnership is cooperation in the field of child support and rehabilitation.
During the visit of the Częstochowa delegation in 2025, representatives of the Polish city visited the Ecological and Naturalistic Centre of Kamianets-Podilskyi, where they learned about the use of animal-assisted therapy and hippotherapy, the work of the integrated animal contact centre, and the newly established riding arena.
Following the meeting, support for children and the development of rehabilitation programmes were identified as promising areas for further cooperation.
This area is particularly relevant for Kamianets-Podilskyi, as it provides an opportunity to draw on Polish experience in social support, rehabilitation and work with children.
Cooperation During the Full-Scale War
Following the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the partnership between Częstochowa and Kamianets-Podilskyi took on a new significance. Cultural and municipal cooperation was complemented by humanitarian and financial support.
According to the official website of Częstochowa, within the framework of the partnership, the city provided material and financial humanitarian assistance to residents of Kamianets-Podilskyi and internally displaced persons affected by the war.
It is particularly noteworthy that on 3 March 2022, the Częstochowa City Council adopted a resolution to provide financial assistance to its partner city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. This constitutes an officially documented decision by the Polish municipality.
Thus, during the war, the partnership has evolved beyond cultural and educational exchanges into a concrete mechanism for supporting Kamianets-Podilskyi and its residents.
Visits and Municipal Dialogue
Mutual visits by representatives of local government authorities are an important component of the partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Częstochowa.
In December 2023, a delegation from Kamianets-Podilskyi visited Częstochowa, where it met with the Deputy Mayor of the City, Ryszard Stefaniak. During the meeting, the sides discussed the situation in Ukraine and prospects for further development of their partnership.
In October 2024, a delegation from Częstochowa visited Kamianets-Podilskyi. It included representatives of the city’s education department, educational institutions, psychological and pedagogical services, non-governmental organizations and other partner institutions. The visit contributed to strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, social support and work with children.
In November 2025, a delegation from Częstochowa, headed by Rafał Piotrowski, arrived in Kamianets-Podilskyi. Representatives of the Polish city visited educational and social facilities in the community, familiarized themselves with the work of educational institutions and discussed new areas of partnership.
In April 2026, cooperation between the two cities was further strengthened through a visit by a Częstochowa delegation to Lyceum No. 13 in Kamianets-Podilskyi. Representatives of the Polish municipality — Rafał Piotrowski, Mariusz Zawada, Rafał Dziwis and Adam Kiwałski — came to Kamianets-Podilskyi on a humanitarian mission and to support Ukrainian schoolchildren and youth. During the meeting, they spoke with students and teachers and provided the lyceum with humanitarian assistance, including sports equipment and sweet gifts for the pupils.
The partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Częstochowa, officially established on 20 November 2008, is long-standing and encompasses a wide range of areas, including education, culture, youth policy, social affairs, rehabilitation and humanitarian support.
The cooperation has taken on particular significance since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Częstochowa has not only maintained active partnership ties with Kamianets-Podilskyi but has also contributed to practical support for the community and Ukrainian children.
Thus, Częstochowa is a reliable and active Polish partner of Kamianets-Podilskyi, and the long-standing cooperation between the two communities provides a strong foundation for implementing new joint initiatives in the fields of education, culture, youth policy, social support and community recovery.