Overview
In 2003, Birmingham formalized a Sister City relationship with Vinnytsia, Ukraine. Our ongoing medical, cultural and religious exchanges with this city have engaged many volunteers and continue to actively operate throughout the year.
Birmingham Sister Cities has received grants to host Open World delegations from Ukraine and maintains regular people-to-people and informational exchanges with Vinnytsia.
For the last several years, we have hosted Ukrainian Ambassadors and other government officials to the US. Board Member Scotty Colson is Honorary Consul for Alabama to Ukraine. In 2017, Birmingham won the SCI Humanitarian award for the ongoing medical humanitarian shipments to Ukraine to bring relief to the Donbas.
Locale Information
Vinnytsia is a city located in central Ukraine, approximately 260 kilometers southwest of the country's capital, Kyiv. It is situated on the banks of the Southern Bug River and is the administrative center of Vinnytsia Oblast, a province in Ukraine.
Vinnytsia has a population of over 370,000 people and is a major cultural, educational, and industrial center in the region. The city has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic era, and is home to several important cultural and historical landmarks, including the National Pirogov Memorial Museum and the Multimedia Fountain Roshen.
The city of Vinnytsia has been an important trade center since the 14th century. It enjoys a warm climate and is home to Gorky Park, a 40-hectare urban park that has served as the celebration grounds of its residents for 70 years.
Economy
The main driver of the economy in Vinnytsia, Ukraine is agriculture. The region is known for its fertile soil and favorable climate, which allows for the production of a variety of crops such as grains, vegetables, fruits, and berries.
The city also has a strong food processing industry, with companies specializing in the production of dairy products, meat, and confectionery. Additionally, Vinnytsia has a growing IT sector, with several software development companies operating in the city.
Fun Facts
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Tourist Places
Kyiv (includes Saint Sophia Cathedral, Monastery of the Caves, Museum of Folk Architecture, Saint Michael’s Golden Domed Monastery, Mariinsky Palace, National Opera House, Chernobyl Museum, Saint Andrew’s Church); Mount Hoverla; Tunnel of Love; Old Town Lviv; Odessa; Chernivtsi; Tauric Chersonese & Its Chora
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Climate
Temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
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Sports
Soccer, basketball, boxing, ice hockey
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Local Meal
Borshch — a soup made with beetroot, meat, or bone stock, and sautéed vegetables; Varenyky – dumplings stuffed with potato, cheese (sometimes both), sauerkraut, mushrooms, or fruit filling
