On November 4 in Barcelona, Mayor Jaume Collboni and Kharkiv’s Mayor Ihor Terekhov signed a declaration of intent between the two cities with the aim of helping the Ukrainian city restore its public services and strengthen its urban resilience.

In the declaration, both cities commit to exchanging experiences in areas such as the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport, the introduction of digital technologies in municipal management, energy, water supply and sanitation, youth policies, culture, education, inclusive policies, and child protection policies, all within the scope of their respective competences.

Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second-largest city and is located in the northeast of the country, near the Russian border. At present, the city faces severe destruction of essential infrastructure and serious difficulties in accessing basic health and energy services, which worsens the humanitarian situation for its inhabitants.