Greater Manchester has hosted a delegation of Ukrainian mayors and senior officials as part of a two‑day programme focused on resilience, emergency response and managing cities through sustained crisis.
The visit brought civic leaders together to share practical experience, strengthen partnerships and explore how UK city regions can both support Ukraine and learn from the challenges Ukrainian cities have faced since the start of the war.
The Ukrainian delegation included Anatoliy Fedoruk, Mayor of Bucha, Andriy Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, and other senior officials.
They shared first‑hand insight into governing cities under prolonged attack and disruption, including how they have maintained essential public services such as transport, utilities, healthcare, education and emergency response while facing constant threat.
Their experiences provided powerful, real‑world lessons on leadership, adaptability and decision‑making during sustained national and local crises.
The summit brought together Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, other UK regional mayors and Ukrainian leaders to discuss how practical support for Ukrainian cities can be strengthened.
Discussions built on relationships developed through the UNBROKEN Cities Network, a global partnership founded by Andy Burnham and Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram following a request from Mayor Sadovyi.
The Network was established to support UNBROKEN, Ukraine’s national rehabilitation programme designed to help the country recover from the physical and psychological trauma of war.
Following the mayoral summit, a national learning event was hosted by the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, in partnership with Lviv City Council and the UNBROKEN Cities Network.
The event brought together UK resilience partners including:
- Emergency services
- Local authorities
- Representatives from national government
Participants received direct insight from Ukrainian cities that have continued operating during a prolonged crisis, with a focus on maintaining public safety, service continuity and institutional resilience.
Focus on Psychological and Community Resilience
A key theme across the two‑day programme was psychological resilience.
Discussions explored mental health support for:
- Civilians living under constant threat
- Veterans and frontline responders
- Communities experiencing collective trauma
Ukrainian leaders also highlighted the importance of culture, public events and shared identity in sustaining morale and social cohesion during conflict, alongside practical emergency planning.
While in Manchester, the Ukrainian delegation were introduced to the work and capabilities of the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, including multi‑agency coordination during major incidents.
They also visited the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance, seeing how health, wellbeing and performance research can underpin stronger community resilience before, during and after emergencies.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
"It was a privilege to welcome Mayor Sadvoyi, Mayor Fedoruk and their colleagues to Greater Manchester to share leadership experience, strengthen relationships and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
“The UNBROKEN Cities Network is about cities standing shoulder to shoulder and translating solidarity into meaningful support, and we are incredibly proud to be a founding member alongside Liverpool City Region."
By learning from cities that have experienced sustained crisis conditions, Greater Manchester aims to strengthen its own ability to respond to extreme events and to build safe, strong and well‑prepared communities across the region.
The visit also reinforced the importance of international municipal cooperation, demonstrating how city‑to‑city partnerships can play a vital role in supporting recovery, sharing expertise and promoting resilience in the face of global challenges.
Image credit: iStock
