Ukmergė
The partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Ukmergė is one of the longest-standing international ties of the Kamianets-Podilskyi community. According to official materials of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council, friendly relations between the two cities date back to 1991. In 2016, as Ukraine marked the 25th anniversary of its independence, Kamianets-Podilskyi highlighted its partnership with Ukmergė as one of the city’s most successful international cooperation projects.
Beginning of the Partnership
Ukmergė became the first city with which Kamianets-Podilskyi concluded an international cooperation agreement. An official report of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council identifies 1991 as the beginning of the cooperation. By the time the report was prepared, the two cities had already been actively cooperating for 17 years in the fields of culture, education, sports, tourism, social protection, the economy, and local self-government.
This partnership became one of the first examples of international municipal cooperation for Kamianets-Podilskyi following Ukraine’s independence and laid the foundation for the further development of ties with European communities.
History of Cooperation between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Ukmergė
The partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Ukmergė (Lithuania) dates back to 1991 and is among the longest-standing international ties of the community. Ukmergė became the first city with which Kamianets-Podilskyi concluded an international cooperation agreement.
Over the years, the partnership has encompassed culture, education, sports, tourism, the social sector, the economy, and local self-government, while the established contacts have provided a foundation for the further development of the community’s international cooperation.
Joint Projects and Sustainable Development
A separate modern area of cooperation has been the participation of Kamianets-Podilskyi and Ukmergė in international projects together with the Swedish city of Mariestad.
In particular, the municipalities cooperated within the “Sustainable Municipalities of the Future” project, which aimed to identify practical solutions for the sustainable development of cities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The project addressed issues such as innovation, infrastructure, transport, energy, and community development. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent circumstances, some of the meetings were held online.
Support for Ukraine Following the Start of the Full-Scale War
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the partnership took on new significance. Ukmergė became one of the Lithuanian municipalities that actively supported its Ukrainian partner cities.
In 2022, 10 humanitarian aid shipments to Kamianets-Podilskyi were organized. The assistance included medicines, food, clothing, hygiene products, generators, heaters, and other essential equipment.
In addition, Ukmergė provided Kamianets-Podilskyi with a ZIL-131 fire truck, together with diesel infrared heaters and trench candles. The transfer was organized by the Ukmergė Fire and Rescue Service.
In September 2022, 60 children from Kamianets-Podilskyi also travelled to a camp in Ukmergė, where they took part in sports, educational, and recreational activities over a period of ten days.
A New Stage of Cooperation in 2026
In 2026, the partnership entered a new stage of development. From 22 to 24 May 2026, a delegation from Kamianets-Podilskyi made an official visit to Ukmergė and took part in the “Summer Will Be Tomorrow” festival.
During the official opening ceremony, the flag of Kamianets-Podilskyi was raised alongside the flags of the partner cities. The delegation also took part in a festive procession through the central streets of Ukmergė. Representatives of the two communities discussed opportunities for implementing joint projects in the areas of culture, education, youth exchanges, tourism, and community development. Another part of the programme was the joint planting of trees as a symbol of friendship and a shared future.
In August 2026, cooperation continued in the area of children’s recreation and leisure. Fifty children from the Kamianets-Podilskyi community travelled to Ukmergė for a holiday programme. Following the trip, the City Council expressed its gratitude to the Lithuanian municipality for its hospitality, care for the children, and continued support of the partnership.
The partnership between Kamianets-Podilskyi and Ukmergė is an important component of the community’s international cooperation and is based on long-standing friendly relations. Cooperation between the two cities contributes to maintaining an ongoing dialogue, mutual understanding, and the exchange of experience between the Ukrainian and Lithuanian sides.
The established ties create favourable conditions for further strengthening the partnership, developing new areas of cooperation, and implementing joint initiatives, while maintaining Ukmergė as an important international partner of Kamianets-Podilskyi.