Tartu joins Lviv-led Unbroken Cities crisis preparedness network

Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city, has formally joined Unbroken Cities, an international network set up by the Ukrainian city of Lviv. The network is meant to help European cities draw on Ukraine's wartime experience in crisis preparedness and urban resilience. Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas (Reform Party) and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi signed a memorandum of understanding in Tartu.

The initiative envisions cities exchanging ways to keep essential services running, support residents and sustain community resilience during crises.

Signed during a seminar

The memorandum was signed during a two-day seminar in Tartu titled "Urban Resilience in Wartime: Lessons from Lviv for European Municipalities." Representatives of Ukrainian and European local governments, public agencies, and crisis-management and community organizations discussed emergency preparedness, crisis communication, disinformation, healthcare and mental health support.

Klaas said Lviv has shown extraordinary resilience and the ability to keep the city functioning under very difficult circumstances, and that this experience is valuable to all of Europe. Joining the network, he added, gives Tartu an opportunity to learn from Lviv's experience and exchange knowledge on how to maintain services and support people in difficult situations.

Origins of the network

Unbroken Cities grew out of Lviv's UNBROKEN initiative, which provides treatment, rehabilitation and support services to people affected by the war. The initiative also shares Ukrainian cities' experience with international partners.

The network aims to strengthen cooperation among cities and help communities better withstand crises and changing conditions.