Gmina Kolbuszowa
Cooperation between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Kolbuszowa is one of the new areas of international partnership of the Kamianets-Podilskyi community. Relations between the two cities have developed through direct contacts between representatives of local self-government authorities, exchanges of experience, and mutual visits, and were officially formalized in 2025.
On 9 June 2024, Mayor of Kamianets-Podilskyi Mykhailo Positko and Mayor of Kolbuszowa Grzegorz Romaniuk signed a Letter of Intent, which laid the foundation for the further establishment of partnership relations.
The next stage was the signing of a Partnership Agreement between the two cities on 25 June 2025. The document was signed by Mayor of Kolbuszowa Grzegorz Romaniuk and Deputy Mayor of Kamianets-Podilskyi Vadym Mendohralo during a session of the Kolbuszowa Municipal Council.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The Partnership Agreement provides for a wide range of areas of cooperation focused on practical exchange between the two communities. These include education and youth exchanges, culture, sports, tourism, entrepreneurship development, investment activity, and local self-government. The main objectives of the partnership are the exchange of experience, the implementation of joint initiatives, and the strengthening of direct contacts between the local communities.
Prior to the signing of the agreement, representatives of both cities had already made mutual visits, during which they had the opportunity to learn about the work of local institutions, governance systems, and approaches to community development. Thus, the formal conclusion of the Partnership Agreement was the result of previous dialogue and practical cooperation.
Municipal Cooperation and Exchange of Experience
An important part of the partnership is the exchange of experience between local self-government authorities. Representatives of Kamianets-Podilskyi and Kolbuszowa have the opportunity to learn from each other’s practices in organizing municipal work, managing local institutions, and implementing community development projects.
The opportunity to draw on Polish experience in the preparation and implementation of projects, attracting European funding, and developing local infrastructure is of particular importance.
Humanitarian Support for Kamianets-Podilskyi
An important component of the partnership has been support for Kamianets-Podilskyi from Kolbuszowa during the full-scale war. Kolbuszowa has supported the Kamianets-Podilskyi community with humanitarian aid, including medical equipment, medicines, rehabilitation supplies, and other essential resources, both before and after the official establishment of the partnership between the two cities.
The Polish community continues to demonstrate its solidarity with Ukraine.
Thus, the partnership is not limited to municipal and cultural cooperation but also has an important humanitarian dimension, which has gained particular significance since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.
Visit of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Delegation to Kolbuszowa in 2025
An important milestone in the development of the partnership was the visit of a delegation from Kamianets-Podilskyi to Kolbuszowa on 16–18 August 2025. The Ukrainian delegation took part in events marking the 35th anniversary of local self-government and the Municipal Harvest Festival.
During the visit, representatives of Kamianets-Podilskyi held working meetings at the Kolbuszowa Municipal Office. One of the key issues discussed was the preparation of joint projects aimed at securing European Union funding. The participation of Polish partners and business representatives in the international investment forum in Kamianets-Podilskyi was also discussed.
Particular attention during the visit was devoted to cultural heritage. Representatives of Kamianets-Podilskyi visited the Museum of Folk Culture in Kolbuszowa and learned about the experience of operating its open-air museum. The practical recommendations gained during the visit are expected to be taken into account when exploring the possibility of creating a similar cultural space in Kamianets-Podilskyi.
Cultural Cooperation
The cultural dimension is one of the important elements of the partnership. Mutual visits create opportunities to showcase the cultural heritage of both communities, participate in local festivals, and develop contacts between artistic groups.
During the August 2025 visit, the Kamianets-Podilskyi delegation took part in traditional events in Kolbuszowa. A symbolic element of the Ukrainian presence was Ukrainian bread as a symbol of peace, gratitude, and unity between the communities.
Cultural cooperation also continued during the Kolbuszowa Days 2025, which were attended by a delegation from Kamianets-Podilskyi led by Deputy Mayor Vadym Mendohralo.
Tourism and Cultural Heritage Preservation
Another promising area of the partnership is tourism and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Both communities have significant cultural potential and can exchange experience in promoting historical sites, developing tourism infrastructure, and creating new tourism products.
Kolbuszowa’s experience in the field of museum management and the preservation of traditional architecture is particularly valuable for Kamianets-Podilskyi. The visit to the Museum of Folk Culture during the 2025 visit provided a practical example of such an exchange of experience.
Economic and Investment Cooperation
The partnership also has an economic and investment dimension. The two sides are interested in developing contacts between entrepreneurs, exchanging information, and creating opportunities for joint economic initiatives.
During the visit of the Ukrainian delegation in August 2025, an agreement was reached on involving Polish partners and business representatives in the international investment forum in Kamianets-Podilskyi. This creates opportunities to present the investment potential of the community to Polish entrepreneurs and identify potential partners.
In 2026, representatives of Kolbuszowa visited Kamianets-Podilskyi and took part in an international tourism forum, which became another practical step in the development of partnership relations between the communities. The participation of the Polish delegation contributed to the exchange of experience in the tourism sector, the presentation of the cities’ tourism potential, and the establishment of new professional contacts.
Cooperation between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Kolbuszowa is gradually developing and encompasses various areas of interaction between the two communities. The established partnership relations contribute to fostering direct contacts between representatives of local self-government authorities, as well as cultural, educational, youth, and sports communities.
Mutual visits, participation in joint events, exchange of experience, and humanitarian support play an important role in the development of cooperation. Further partnership creates opportunities for implementing joint initiatives, expanding international contacts, and strengthening friendly ties between the residents of both communities.