Scranton plans to establish a formal sister city relationship with Sheptytskyi, Ukraine, with both cities expressing in a proposed “twinning agreement” a mutual commitment to “intensify development of democracy, citizenship and government, cultural exchange, education, youth and business cooperation.”
Scranton City Council introduced Tuesday legislation submitted by Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti’s administration authorizing that agreement, which also includes pledges by the proposed sister cities to develop economic cooperation, mutual cooperation in the cultural sphere and an agreement to “explore mutual cooperation and exchange in education and youth engagement.”
“Scranton has a very proud history of supporting Ukraine, and that relationship is as important as it’s ever been,” Cognetti said in a news release. “There is a thriving Ukrainian community here in Scranton, and we hope that this sister city agreement can bring our people even closer together.”
Located in western Ukrainian Lviv Oblast and situated in the Lviv-Volyn coal basin, Sheptytskyi, formerly known as Chervonohrad, is a historical mining town with which Scranton shares common values and similarly rich histories “rooted in industry, innovation, and cultural diversity,” per the legislation council introduced.
The news release announcing the proposed sister city relationship also notes other connections between Scranton and Ukraine, a country racked by war since Russia’s full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Amid that ongoing conflict, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Scranton has shipped tons of goods and supplies — from food and medicine to tourniquets, helmets, drones, boots and body armor — to support the Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of and others impacted by what is the largest and deadliest European war since World War II.
The Rev. Myron Myronyuk, the pastor of the church who has played an instrumental role in those efforts, joined city officials in February as they raised the Ukrainian flag at Scranton City Hall in recognition of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.
The flag raising followed the September visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who thanked the employees at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant producing 155 mm artillery shells for his country’s military.
“It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail,” Zelenskyy said in a contemporaneous post on X that included photos of him at the Scranton plant. “Thanks to people like these — in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries — who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected.”
The legislation authorizing the sister city agreement between Scranton and Sheptytskyi requires one more vote by city council. Members Gerald Smurl, Bill King, Jessica Rothchild, Mark McAndrew and Tom Schuster voted unanimously Tuesday to introduce it.
Scranton’s most notable current sister city relationship is with Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, officials noted in the news release. That agreement dates back to 1990.