You Made A Difference
in the Lives of the Children in Kharkiv.

We can't thank you enough!

Dear Friends of the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Project

It is with great gratitude and a full heart that I am sending you the final report on the program for school psychologists in Kharkiv.  

Summary of the Program for School Psychologists in Kharkiv
Click on the link above to learn more about the impact of this probgram

Thank you so much for making this program possible. Your generosity, trust, and commitment allowed us to provide specialized training for school psychologists in Kharkiv and, through them, offer meaningful support to children, adolescents, and their families as they navigate grief, loss, and the many challenges brought by war.

Please know that your contribution has reached far beyond numbers and statistics. You have helped create opportunities for connection, understanding, resilience, and hope for families living through unimaginable circumstances. At a time when so many children in Ukraine are growing up surrounded by loss and grief, your support has been a powerful reminder that they are not forgotten and that people across the ocean truly care about their well-being.

I feel deeply honored to have had the opportunity to implement this program and to work alongside such caring and dedicated partners. Thank you for believing in the importance of supporting children, families, and school psychologists in Kharkiv.

Sincerely,
Oksana Krasnikova
Clinical Psychologist,
International Expert in Mental Health,
Consultant in Military Psychology.

Albuquerque + Cincinnati + Scholastic Books =

Win for Kharkiv Kids

Albuquerque and Cincinnati responded to the need for books for the school library to replace those damaged in the Russian attacks on our Sister City.  In collaboration with Scholastic Books, English language graphic novels were sent to the underground school in Kharkiv.  They will serve as a resource for students learning English.

Here is information from the International Cooperation Department of Kharkiv City Hall about the delivery of the books.

The underground school facility is shared by four schools. Students study in two shifts several days a week.  The numbers of the schools are 124, 122, 111, 144.

Totally 1480 students attend the underground school (the students of the four schools together).  The age of the students is from 6 to 17 years old.  The number of elementary school students (1-4 grades) who attend the underground school is 489 students. All the students have access to the American books library. 

The books were delivered to the underground schools during the last school week. So the students had a chance to look through the books and try to read them.  The teachers of English are adjusting their teaching plans to be able to use the American graphic novels in their lessons of English during the next school year.

Thanks to the American books, the students are looking forward to returning back to school in September to be able to read the books their friends from Cincinnati and Albuquerque sent them.

Your support of the Sister City Partnerships in Cincinnati and Albuquerque made this possible.  
We can't thank you enough.

We Stand Together      Ann Lampe  

As I sit around a dining room table with members of the Cincinnati Kharkiv Sister City Partnership Board and 6 Ukrainian men who came to Cincinnati almost a week earlier, I am overwhelmed with emotion.  The video below will introduce you to the Delegation from Kharkiv that ran in the Flying Pig Marathon 2026.  

Next to me is Vadym who was one of two Open World  delegates my husband and I hosted more than 10 years ago.  He was 28 at the time, a young, married father of a preschooler and manager of a hotel in Kharkiv.  His future looked bright, his life's path well-marked.  Today, Vadym, now a father of two, is a champion for Ukrainian veterans, working hard to develop rehabilitation services for those injured in the war.  He speaks with eloquence, produces eye-opening videos about the impact of war on daily life in Kharkiv, and acts as a voice for the ever-growing needs of a Kharkiv population in the fifth year of embattlement.  He is still friendly and outgoing, but his boyish demeanor has been replaced by a countenance that reflects the emotional and physical toll this war has taken on all.  

Oleksander, Maxsym, Taras, Vadym, Viktor, Max

Photos by Tim Wilking

To my right sits Viktoria, a Ukrainian woman who came to the United States with her young daughter, seeking refuge from the war.  She carries her own story of challenges overcome, and she embodies a quiet but fierce resilience. Viktoria translates for the young Ukrainian seated to her right, but it is clear that her mother's heart is hurt by the wounds he bears .
 

Next to Viktoria sits 28-year-old Oleksandr, a Ukrainian veteran and double amputee who, in addition to losing both lower legs in the war, has hearing and vision loss resulting from the concussive effect of an exploding landmine. Of slight build, with large, beautifully expressive eyes, he has an air of innocence about him that touches my heart as he rests his sore legs on the prosthetics that he has removed in an effort to gain relief from chafing incurred during his participation in the Flying Pig 5K run. This young man has had much taken from him, but he is rebuilding his life by giving back as a coach of an adaptive soccer team in Kharkiv.  His spirit is infectious, his resilience inspiring.

Looking on as this young veteran speaks is Maxsym, the CEO of a facility where injured soldiers swim as part of their rehabilitation.  Maxsym, a father himself, has such a look of tenderness on his face that I become teary, recognizing his compassion for and dedication to this young man and a myriad of other injured veterans, strangers to him before the war, but now an inspiration for his generosity.
 

At the end of the table, interpreting for the group in general, is Sasha, an eternally gracious, kind, and smiling Ukrainian man who came to the USA in the early 1990's, making Cincinnati his home.  He is a dedicated member of the CKSCP Board, and a conduit for continuous dialogue between Kharkiv and Cincinnati. 

Standing behind Sasha is Taras, a Ukrainian soldier who is still on active duty.  His body contains shrapnel from injury incurred in the war, but the casual observer would not be aware that he deals with ongoing discomfort.  A leader by nature, he exudes a quiet confidence, exhibiting a strong, reassuring presence in the group.
 

Next we find a young Ukrainian newlywed, Max (yes, he was married only 10 days ago!) who coaches veterans as they swim their way toward rehabilitation.  He himself is a paralympic swimming champion, but today he is just one of the guys putting their heads together to find a way to create a central hub in Kharkiv that will provide comprehensive services for the continuing rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers.

The sixth member of the Ukrainian group, Viktor, is a quiet, thoughtful man who lights up a room with his smile.  He, too, has lost a leg in the war.  He, too, ran in the Flying Pig 5K.  He, too, chooses to move forward by helping others.  

Leading the meeting is Mike, a CKSCP Board member who chaired the planning committee for this program.  I watch him transform from gracious, fun-loving host into "managerial" mode as the group discusses next steps, aspirations, and potential fund raising.  He assigns CKSCP and the Ukrainian delegation "homework" to do before our next virtual meeting.  Each group is to identify priorities for the creation of the rehabilitation "hub" and strategies for achieving this goal.  He suggests connecting with knowledgeable others who might provide insight for the project.

Next to him sits a newcomer to the group, Julia, a Ukrainian woman who has resided in the USA for 28 years.  She has experience in the fundraising non-profit world and offers her help to make the rehabilitation center dream come true.

I am deeply moved by the dedication of my fellow CKSCP Board members and their spouses who give generously of their time, embracing citizens of our Sister City with genuine affection and caring.  I am inspired by these Ukrainian men who, despite a war that has upended their own lives, dedicate themselves to helping their fellow countrymen move forward. 

For me this war has become personal because I see the resilient, hard-working, generous, kind, courageous people gathered around the table making a difference, one human life at a time.     

Ukrainian Veterans Coming to Cincinnati 

Learn about their experiences defending their country
and their plans to help those wounded in the war.

You are cordially invited to a very special event to meet a group of men from Kharkiv who are visiting Cincinnati.  This is a unique opportunity to meet three Ukrainian adaptive athletes wh were wounded in defending Ukraine. 
 

We hope you will join us to learn more.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Public Radio 

2117 Dana Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45207

https://youtube.com/shorts/r95mmXpQQ0g?feature=share

Running to Keep Living

Kharkiv. A city where the sound of sirens
has become the background of life.
A city that lives — despite everything.
Here, movement is more than sport.
It is a way to hold on. A way not to lose yourself.

This story began with one marathon.
With a personal challenge that over time grew into something more.

Today, alongside are war veterans.
People who, after the front and injuries,
are relearning to feel their bodies.
Where every step is an effort.  And every movement is a victory.

Here, there are no quick results.
There is a path. There is support. There is faith.
It’s not about kilometers.  It’s about endurance.
About responsibility. About a life that goes on.

This is a story about Kharkiv holding on.
And about people who keep running — to keep living.

Vadym Kovalenko, Taras Panasiuk, Maksym Bondarev,  Maksym Krypak.

Four members of this group will be participating in the Flying Pig to serve as a reminder that the war continues and takes a heavy human toll.  Two will run the 5K on May 2; two will run the full Marathon on May 3.

During their visit, the group will tour several veterans' programs focusing on physical rehabilitation and emotional support, as they aim to create a state-of-the-art rehabilitation hub for veterans in our Sister City.

Contributions from CKSCP support rehabilitation efforts for wounded warriors in Ukraine.  We look forward to cheering on these resilient adaptive athletes in the Flying Pig Marathon!

As tensions around the world escalate, the war in Ukraine falls further from the headlines. 

However, its toll on the citizens of Cincinnati’s sister city, Kharkiv, has become more severe. The physical toll is terrible; the mental toll is worse. As the people of Kharkiv prepare for the coming winter under ongoing military attacks and constant heat and electricity deprivation, the physical barrage is resulting in a massive mental health crisis that will extend well beyond the end of the conflict. We need your support to address these challenges. 

There is an immense need for psychological care, PTSD care, and resources to address the long-term effects of this devastation. Through your support, CKSCP has initiated a program with Oksana Krasnikova, an internationally recognized clinical child psychologist to develop and execute a training program for school psychologists in Kharkiv who are poorly equipped to deal with the difficult situations they experience in their schools every day.  A total of 12 school psychologists will be trained who will then have the ability to help 720 children.  We all hope that this war will end soon, but as we enter this winter, please consider giving to this worthy cause. The people of Kharkiv hope they can count on you. 

Checks made payable to CKSCP can be sent to:

Bob Herring                                             
CKSCP  President                           

3544 Glen Edge Lane Online Donations

Cincinnati, Ohio 45213 Link to PayPal and Credit Card 

This Award recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding Sister City programs that promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.  In accepting the award presented to CKSCP at the SCI Annual Meeting in Forth Worth, Texas, Bob Herring, President of CKSCP, said, "This Award belongs to the people of Cincinnati who generously shared their resources to help the citizens of Kharkiv survive under almost daily bombardment from the Russian army.  Their generosity speaks volumes about the value and the importance of this Sister City connection.”

providing information about the challenges faced by the people of Kharkiv and encouraged them to contribute funds to help underwrite the work of the Kharkiv Red Cross.  As news of the war moved to the back page, CKSCP reminded the people of Cincinnati about the persistent missile attacks on Kharkiv and that the need for humanitarian assistance did not diminish but rather increased.

Funds raised by CKSCP were distributed to support the Kharkiv Red Cross, helping fund a truck to haul debris from buildings damaged by Russian missiles.  The funds also underwrote a pilot project for teachers’ mental health, supported the Rubinko Medical Center treating wounded soldiers, and contributed to Direct Help Ukraine.

Since 1989 Cincinnati and Kharkiv have been Sister Cities and for the past 36 years have collaborated on a variety of projects in the arts, education, law and medicine.  CKSCP is committed to this partnership, to providing humanitarian aid through the conclusion of this war and through the rebuilding of Kharkiv.

Visit sistercities.org for additional information on Sister Cities International.

Dear Friends!!!

I want to thank all of you once again for your help to Kharkiv, residents and the military who courageously defend Ukraine from the terrorist country of Russia. This is another need of the Kharkiv Ministry of Internal Affairs hospital.   

Vadym Kovalenko

Thanks to Mariemont Schools, the Barn and the Mariemont Arts Association.

Taras, a member of the Ukrainian military, suffered a gunshot wound to his chest defending Kharkiv and later his car hit a mine. recovering from injuries suffered in the war. 

Vadym, an Ironman competitor, is engaged in volunteer activities focusing on assisting physical therapy and rehabilitation for members of the Ukrainian armed forces.

The Next Step in Collaboration to Provide Support to the Children of Ukraine

This past February, Oksana Yelchiieva, Director of the Dept. of Social Protection of the Mykolaiv Region of Ukraine, and five other Ukrainian delegates, all here through the  Congressional Office for International Leadership's Open World program, visited Fernside Center for Grieving Children.   Oksana realized that a program similar to Fernside's was essential for children and military families in her region, and she reached out to the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership and Fernside for assistance in moving this project forward.

On April 14, three staff members from Fernside and Oksana Yelchiieva participated in a first Zoom meeting.  Also present were representatives from the Congressional Office for International Leadership, American Councils in Kyiv, the Deputy Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, CKSCP, and more than 50 representatives of regional social service providers.  Following Fernside's overview of their work, several participants asked important questions.  In conclusion, Fernside committed to be available to Oksana and her staff for future discussions and, possibly, some training. 

Your Contribution Has Made a Difference

We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the CKSCP Fall Fundraiser and our recent Winter follow-up fundraiser.  Between these two efforts, we raised over $52,000, with more donations still coming in! 

Your donations have enabled us to:

• Provide $20,000 (so far) to the Kharkiv Red Cross. This allows for immediate evacuation to hospitals for those injured in missile attacks.

• Spend $6,000 (so far) to purchase over 100 emergency medical kits from White Stork International. They are used on the front lines to stop bleeding so the injured can be transported to a medical facility.

• Provide $2,000 (so far) to NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief as they work to create a Community Resilience Center in Kharkiv so the citizens of Kharkiv will have another resource to address the trauma of war.

• Earmark $4,000 to help fund coping training for Kharkiv area teachers so teachers can recognize and assist students who are having challenges coping with the trauma they are experiencing..

That is $32,000 which has immediately made an impact on the ground in Kharkiv with more to come. In just 4 months, we have already been able to surpass all the relief we were able to provide in 2024!

Thanks to your generosity, we will be able to continue this work. We will also be able to put additional resources toward projects that will help the people of Kharkiv survive and recover after the war. If you would like to make a donation, please click this  Paypal link .

You can also make out a check to:

Cincinnati - Kharkiv Sister Cities Partnership

544 Glen Edge Lane   

Cincinnati, OH 45213.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Winter has again come to Kharkiv, Ukraine, and the war with Russia continues.  
The people of our Sister City are facing the cold with very little electricity, constant attacks, and a massive mental health crisis. We need your support.                     January 2025

Because of your generosity, we have made many friends in Kharkiv over the years. One such friend is Konstantin, who has dodged shelling and S-300 missile attacks to deliver hats, gloves, boots, gasoline, and generators to women and children in need. Kharkivites spend most of their day without power or heat in a city where the average winter low temperature is -7 Fahrenheit. Basic hygiene supplies are scarce, medical supplies are badly needed, and the situation will just get worse as the Russians continue to shell the city.

The stress of war for the children is severe. Going to school underground, living in fear of attacks, missing family and friends. It is a mental health emergency for everyone but especially for the children who need special consideration.   Oksana, child psychologist

Since the war began, the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership has helped fund lifesaving work by the Kharkiv Red Cross, the World Central Kitchen, the teacher mental health program, a rehabilitation clinic for people who have been wounded, and many more projects. All the individuals that need and receive the lifesaving support your donation helps provide lived very much like we did before March of 2022. Then their world changed dramatically.

OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. Although the war has left the news cycle, suffering is not letting up. For these reasons and more, we ask for your help again. Even a small donation can go a long way to help our friends in Kharkiv survive another unbearable winter of war. To see the impact your contribution, scroll down to see the Red Cross in action.

We transfer 100% of the donations we receive to either our partners in Ukraine, (e.g. the Kharkiv Red Cross), or humanitarian organizations on the ground in Kharkiv that pass our vetting process. No money donated goes to weaponry.

Our allocations are purely humanitarian. We all hope that this war will finally end soon, but as we enter this winter of greatest need, please consider giving to this worthy cause.

Please donate by check or by clicking the Donate link to the left. Checks should be made out to “Cincinnati / Kharkiv Sister Cities Partnership” and mailed to 3544 Glen Edge Lane. Cincinnati, OH 45213. 

The people of Kharkiv hope they can count on you.

This is the work they do; these are the challenges they will face in the winter months ahead.  We can make a difference.  Your contribution to the Kharkiv Red Cross will impact the lives of the people in our Sister City.   Donate here.

Please take a moment to view this video "Broken Dreams - War Against Culture and Education".  It will deepen your understanding of what is taking place in our Sister City and throughout Ukraine. 

Update on the Conditions in Kharkiv

Denys Yaroslavskyi, member of the Ukrainian military on the front lines defending Kharkiv, paid a visit to Cincinnati after having attended the NATO Summit in Washington, DC.  In meetings with Mark Jeffreys and Greg Landsman, he shared infomation on the current conditions in our Sister City and the challenges they will face this winter as a result of the Russian attacks on the city's infrastructure.

There was also a public forum when he met with the community and friends of CKSCP.  Denys shared this video of the impact of the Russian attack on Kharkiv.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIMZcyHI9MU

We thought you'd like to know ...

Here you will discover the impact your contribution has had on those being treated at the Rubinko Medical Center in Kharkiv.  The Medical Center provides, free-of-charge, rehabilitation for members of the military who have been injured during the war.  Funds raised when Vadym and Taras came to Cincinnati to run in the Pig are helping underwrite their care.

Cincinnati Digs Deep
to Support the Clinic in Kharkiv

Vadym and Taras came to Cincinnati with two goals in mind: finish the Flying Pig Marathon and raise funds for the Rubinko Medical Center in Kharkiv which provides, free-of-charge, rehabilitation for members of the military who have been injured during the war. They were successful in both!

Thanks to the generosity of the people of Cincinnati, they will return home with over $17,000.  We could not have done it without the donors to CKSCP and the support of Streetside Brewery that hosted an opportunity for Vadym and Taras to tell their story.

As this goes to press, Kharkiv and the surrounding region are preparing for a Russian attack sometime within the next 4-6 weeks.  Many civilians have left the city.   Supplies are being stockpiled; fortifications are being strengthened.  The funds we raised will be used to treat those who will be wounded in the defense of our Sister City.  We can't thank you enough!

Marathoners from Kharkiv Arrive for the Pig

Marathon runner Vadim Kovalenko and Lieutenant Colonel Taras Panasyuk will arrive in Cincinnati April 30 to participate in this year's Flying Pig Marathon.  In addition to crossing the finish line, their goal is to raise funds for the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and civilians at the Rubinko Medical Center.

The Rubinko Medical Center provides assistance to wounded soldiers free of charge.  Due to the increase of battle activity in the Kharkiv region, which started in February, 2024, the number of wounded, severely injured soldiers, and the number of amputees has significantly increased.  The Medical Center receives 25-30 patients every day and needs financial assistance to meet the new challenges.

All are invited to a Community Meet & Greet at the Streetside Brewery on Friday, May 3 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Taras will share his experience on the front line with a Q&A at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30.  Streetside Brewery is located at 4003 Eastern Avenue in Columbia Tusculum.

Channel 9

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/ukrainians-running-in-flying-pig-marathon-raising-money-for-wounded-veterans

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/we-are-unbreakable-ukrainian-runners-come-to-cincinnati-for-flying-pig-marathon

Channel 5

https://www.wlwt.com/article/flying-pig-marathon-cincinnati-ukraine-kharkiv-runners/60663484

The former teacher, based on her experience with a support program for Ukrainian refugees living in Slovakia, suggested a format.  Fourteen teachers would be offered four group meetings, led by two psychologists, to learn new coping skills to deal with their daily stresses.  They would be offered a stipend, and the professionals involved in planning and implementing this program would be paid. It made complete sense that CKSCP should fund this pilot program, fitting perfectly with our mission to help the citizens of Kharkiv.

With the Kharkiv International Cooperation Department and Mayor Terekhov’s knowledge and support of this proposal, the pilot program began in late December.  Teachers have now attended all four sessions, and their responses have been very positive.  We received follow-up evaluation reports from Oksana Krasnikova, the psychologist who trained the two group leaders, and Tetiana Barbinova, the psychologist in charge of the teachers’ group activities during each meeting.  These reports will be shared with the CKSCP board and with Kharkiv governmental officials.

The videos below provide a look at the work of the KRC as they search through the rubble of destroyed buildings.  

Kharkiv Red Cross, our volunteers and all citizens of our city are extremely grateful for everything you have done for our city.  Without your help the state of the people's lives would be much grimmer.  

                                                            Konstantin  Bashkirov

                                                            President Kharkiv Red Cross

A second winter of war has come to Ukraine, and the people in our Sister City of Kharkiv once again need our help. This holiday season, please consider a donation to the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership.  All money we raise goes directly to the people and organizations on the ground in the Kharkiv region as they work to provide ongoing relief.

The money raised by this Sister City Partnership all goes to tangible relief efforts that directly benefit the people of the Kharkiv region.  For example, in 2023, we distributed funding for the following projects:

• The ongoing emergency operations of the Kharkiv Red Cross.  This includes the purchase of trucks, ambulances, and supplies for civilians such as blankets.

• Physical rehabilitation for Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front.

• Mental health treatment for teachers- many of whom are conducting classes in Kharkiv’s subway tunnels.

• Tools and vital equipment for the Village of Dergachi in the Kharkiv Oblast.

The winter is an especially tough time for the residents of Kharkiv.  All money that you donate will be distributed to organizations that we have vetted, and who can use it right now to help people get through the coming months.  Your contribution to CKSCP is tax deductible and can be made by check, PayPal or credit card.

Checks sent to:

Bob Herring

CKSCP President

3544 Glen Edge Lane

Cincinnati, Ohio 45213

Online Donations

Link to: PayPal and Credit Card

We can’t thank you enough for your thoughtful consideration of the request and your response to help those so desperately in need this winter in our Sister City.

New Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by Mayors of Cincinnati and Kharkiv

In an online signing ceremony Setptember 19, Mayor Aftab Pureval and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov will sign the new Memorandum of Understanding that will guide the activities through 2028. 

Singatories to the MoU and present in Kyiv will be CKSCP Pesident Bob Herring and Kharkiv-Cincinnati Sister City President Iryna Bakumenko.

Bob Herring and City Council Member Mark Jeffreys will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine September 16 to meet with Mayor Terekhov and attend the Kharkiv Restart Forum where ideas will be presented for our Sister City's rebirth after the end of the war. 

"We stand in solidarity with the people of Kharkiv," said Jeffreys.  "It's really looking ahead for when the war does end — what do they need? They need physical infrastructure, for sure. But then even things like medical professionals ... so we're approaching it from the standpoint of listening and hearing their needs, and then coming back and sharing that with not only our city, but the broader community."

"Our presence at the Forum sends the message to our friends in Kharkiv that they are not alone, that we will be with them in the weeks and months and years to come” said Herring.

Over the past 35 years collaboration on hundreds of projects has deepened the understanding of each other and fostered strong friendships.  .

The Russian Invasion

It's been a year that we did not anticipate and has been unlike anything we've ever experienced.  This is the story.

• The Russian Invasion 

• Our Collaboration with the Kharkiv Red Cross

• The 1st Anniversary of the Start of the War