Kutná Hora
The partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Kutná Hora was officially established in 2008. According to the official information portal of Kutná Hora, the partnership agreement between the two cities was signed by their mayors on 4 October 2008, and on 9 December of the same year, it was approved by the representative assembly of the City of Kutná Hora. Today, both cities officially recognize each other as partner cities.
Development of Municipal and Tourism Contacts
In the early years of the partnership, inter-municipal contacts, tourism, and the exchange of experience played an important role. In particular, in March 2010, the City Council of Kutná Hora decided to participate in the international tourism fair in Kamianets-Podilskyi, which was held on 23–24 April 2010. This demonstrates the practical use of the partnership to develop tourism links and promote the two cities to each other.
Another area of international cooperation was the “Gediminids’ Way” project. In February 2014, the Association of Local Self-Government Bodies “Gediminids’ Way”, of which Kamianets-Podilskyi was a member, signed a memorandum of cooperation with the City of Kutná Hora. Thus, the partnership was further developed through broader international projects in the fields of historical and cultural cooperation and tourism.
Cooperation in the Field of Local Development
The partnership gradually expanded beyond cultural and tourism-related contacts. The materials of the Association of Ukrainian Cities separately present the results of cooperation between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Kutná Hora in the field of municipal and business cooperation. In particular, the cooperation involved working meetings, identifying the needs of the communities and local businesses, and subsequently preparing joint projects.
Support for Kamianets-Podilskyi Following the Full-Scale Invasion
Following the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, the partnership acquired new practical significance. As early as 26 February 2022, Kamianets-Podilskyi received its first humanitarian aid shipment from Kutná Hora. The Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council also noted that Czech partners hosted residents of the community, provided humanitarian and charitable assistance, invited children for recuperation and supported the community in other ways.
For its part, in March 2022, the Kutná Hora City Council officially adopted a decision to conclude an agreement on providing charitable assistance to Kamianets-Podilskyi and to allocate CZK 100,000 in financial aid.
In the first days of the full-scale war, Kutná Hora also officially expressed its solidarity with Ukraine: on 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian flag was raised on the City Council building, while the city authorities sent words of support to their partner city of Kamianets-Podilskyi.
The partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Kutná Hora has become an important area of Ukrainian-Czech intermunicipal cooperation. Over the years, the cooperation has gradually expanded from cultural and tourism contacts and the exchange of experience to the development of business relations and support for local businesses.
The partnership acquired particular significance following the outbreak of the full-scale war, when Kutná Hora provided Kamianets-Podilskyi with humanitarian and financial assistance. At the same time, the current stage of cooperation demonstrates the parties’ commitment to developing not only the humanitarian dimension, but also economic, tourism, cultural and professional contacts, creating a foundation for further strengthening the partnership and implementing joint initiatives.