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Syracuse welcomes Ukrainian mayor for sister city designation

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Two men holding up signed contract in front of podium
Aiyana Hardy
/
WAER
Mayor Walsh and Mayor Markushyn of Ukraine hold up signed contract of partnership for Syracuse and sister city Irpin on the steps of Syracuse City Hall, April 14, 2023.

A Ukrainian Mayor stopped in Syracuse on Friday to announce a new partnership—the Ukrainian city of Irpin was named a sister city to Syracuse.

Mayor Ben Walsh said the formal connection affirmed the familial connection that many Syracuse residents have to Ukraine.

"What’s happening in Ukraine is directly impacting people here in the city of Syracuse," Walsh explained. "We have a large Ukrainian population, and people’s families people’s friends are being directly impacted by this war, so this is personal for us."

Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn expressed that the declaration was a critical sign of support to the Ukrainian people during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

"You cannot imagine how important it is for us to see Ukrainians from different parts of the world coming together for meetings to support Ukraine, and our military definitely feels that support when they are fighting with honor on the battlefield,” Markushyn said.

The city of Syracuse has one of the largest Ukrainian populations in the United States and has welcomed refugees from the war-torn country.