Hereford City Council today confirmed that Hereford and Zhytomyr in Ukraine will formalise a Friendship Agreement, marking a commitment to closer links, cultural exchange and practical cooperation between the two communities.
The historic cities of Hereford and Zhytomyr have committed to a Friendship Agreement, with a formal signing ceremony between the two Mayors taking place on Tuesday 28th April 2026.
The agreement brings together two cities with proud histories and strong civic traditions, connected by shared values of community, resilience and friendship. The relationship will be based on mutual learning, practical activity and opportunities for cultural exchange.
The ceremony will be held online, hosted by the Mayors Daniel Powell of Hereford and Miss Halyna Shymanska of Zhytomyr. It will include the formal signing of the Friendship Agreement, short addresses from both Mayors and invited guests in each location, including in Hereford representatives of the Lord Lieutenant’s office, the High Sheriff and Herefordshire County Council. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will join the ceremony on line. Karen Hall, hvoss and Chair of the Herefordshire Community Network for Ukraine and Lesley Grady of the Diocese of Hereford will introduce the work of the Network and its partners in welcoming Ukrainian guests and supporting them and their hosts in the county. Alla Savchenko, hvoss and the Co-ordinator of the Network, has travelled to Zhytomyr for the ceremony.
The event will include a performance from the Hereford-based Ukrainian choir, led by Galyna Grigoraldi and made up of Ukrainian and British singers, and in Zhytomyr from the Choreographic Art School.
A Friendship Agreement is a statement of intent between two cities to maintain contact and develop opportunities to work together. The Hereford–Zhytomyr agreement focusses on sharing culture, building understanding between people, and growing long-term connections that will endure beyond the ceremony itself.
Cllr Daniel Powell, Mayor of Hereford, said: “This agreement marks the beginning of a meaningful and lasting friendship between Hereford and Zhytomyr. At a time when unity matters more than ever, we are proud to stand side by side with the people of Zhytomyr and Ukraine. Signing this agreement is a practical expression of Hereford’s commitment to friendship, solidarity, cultural understanding and international cooperation. We look forward to building lasting links between our historic cities and creating opportunities for our people to connect, work and learn from each other.”
Ms Halyna Shymanska, Mayor of Zhytomyr, said: “We are looking forward to working with our friends and colleagues in Hereford, which has offered such a warm welcome and safety to so many Ukrainians fleeing the war here at home. Our cities have a great deal in common, including music and culture, beautiful buildings and a very long history and we are excited to have this opportunity to share, learn and build into a warm and mutually supportive future.”
The Mayor and Council wish to thank hvoss, the convenor and chair of the Herefordshire Network for Ukraine, its partners, and the Diocese of Hereford for their introduction to Zhytomyr and supporting the Friendship relationship and ceremony.