Today, May 17, First Selectman Rudy Marconi issued a Proclamation to underscore the bonds of compassion, kinship, and support with the people of this city in the besieged eastern region of Donetsk. On the same day, 5,000 miles away, Mayor Serhiy Boyevskyy signed a companion proclamation in Druzhkivka.
“Through this program, our community can engage with Druzhkivka in many different ways. There will be opportunities for individuals, families, businesses, schools — everyone to take part now and in the future,” said Marconi. Mayor Boyevskyy expressed his deep gratitude: “We truly appreciate that the people of Ridgefield care about the well-being of Ukrainians.”
Ridgefield and Druzhkivka were matched as sister cities based on shared characteristics. Before the war Druzhkivka, like Ridgefield, was a close-knit family-oriented town with gyms, parks, playgrounds, and the largest ice-skating rink in Ukraine. Now, most of these facilities are destroyed.
What the city of Druzhkivka and its citizens have been through is unimaginable. Having endured frequent shelling and bombing for more than a year, the fundamental infrastructure is crippled. Only about half the population remains in the city.
Many residents fled, some perished, others are unaccounted for. However, more than 30,000 residents resolutely remain in Druzhkivka, predominantly women, children and the elderly. At last count this included almost 10,000 children, more than 1000 individuals with disabilities, and more than 13,500 people who have been displaced from their homes. All these remaining citizens are suffering a critical need for shelter, electricity, heat, drinking water, food, and medical care.
The aim of the sister city program is to help provide some much-needed relief to these courageous residents in Druzhkivka. Ridgefield’s program will be coordinated through Ridgefield Responds: Hope for Ukraine with Ukraine Aid International (UAI) as their partner in Ukraine.
“We are so grateful to the people of Ridgefield for standing behind the people of Druzhkivka in their time of dire need,” said Marshall Mayer, UAI President and co-founder. “Our team on the ground in Ukraine is ready to work with you to deliver help and hope to your sister city.”
In the first video meeting between First Selectman Marconi and Mayor Boyevskyy, the mayor shared some of the most urgent needs for the citizens of Druzhkivka:
- Vehicles, equipment, and materials to help with search and rescue, clean-up of rubble and debris, reinforcement and structural stabilization of partially bombed buildings where residents continue to live, and more.
- Equipment and machinery to drill communal wells; water filtration and purification systems to ensure clean, potable water
- Medical equipment and supplies for first responders, including stretchers, bandages, rehabilitative supplies such as slings and crutches, bandages, gauze, iodine and hospital equipment such as MRI, ultrasound, colonoscope
- Civilian needs and supplies including tools, small gas generators, lanterns, sleeping bags, school supplies, canning/pickling jars.
The Town of Ridgefield has helped to kickstart the drive by donating an unused high-capacity generator. “We are grateful to the town for this very powerful generator.” said Ross Voytovych, of Ridgefield Responds. “It’s a generous start to the drive. It demonstrates a real commitment and sets an example for all of us.”
