Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — This month will mark a half-year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And while the overseas conflict has gotten a decreasing amount of attention over that time, Salt Lake City's elected leaders said Tuesday that they want to make sure their sister city in Ukraine knows it hasn't been forgotten. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and members of the Salt Lake City Council signed a city flag that is being shipped to the city of Chernivtsi in southeast Ukraine.
In a combined statement, Mendenhall and members of the council wrote that the conflict in Ukraine is "not lost on us" and the small gesture is meant to let those in their sister city know they have support behind them.
"We admire the strength, compassion and courage demonstrated by the residents of Chernivtsi and other Ukrainians currently dealing with this unprecedented crisis," the statement says. "(As) an entire city, we want to let the people of Chernivtsi know that they are always in our thoughts, and we are sending a signed flag of our city as a gesture of solidarity in recognition of their daily bravery."
Salt Lake City and Chernivtsi have been sister cities since 1989. Shortly after the conflict broke out in February, Salt Lake leaders reached out to express their support. Chernivtsi Mayor Roman Klichuk responded in March, thanking them for their support during a stressful time in Ukraine's history.
"(We) are sincerely grateful to each of you for support and help. … Your support gives us confidence today, and official cooperation holds a promise for a better future," he said, at the time.
A few hundred Ukrainian refugees are expected to come to Utah in the near future. Meanwhile, Salt Lake City set up a webpage where residents can send messages of support and donate to organizations that are helping Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
