Sister City in Ukraine, Zazymia

Pound Ridge signed a Sister City agreement with the Ukrainian town of Zazymia. The Sister City program is coordinated by Ukraine Aid International, a dual-registered NGO with U.S. nonprofit status. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, UAI has been bringing last-mile humanitarian aid to frontline communities, reaching more than 2.5 million civilians. Through its Sister-City Program, UAI connects cities in Ukraine with those in other countries, ensuring transparent, community-driven support. The Pound Ridge Town Board approved the Sister City MOU at this week's meeting, paving the way for a deep cultural exchange with Zazymia, located just northeast of Kyiv. Because of its proximity to Kyiv and vital infrastructure, Zazymia remains vulnerable to regular missile and drone attacks. Over 600 residents of the community are currently serving in Ukraine’s armed forces. Despite these challenges, local governance remains strong and highly trusted. The elected community head, Vitalii Krupenko, was elected in 2020 with over 90 percent voter support. 

Ukraine Aid International

The UAI mission is to provide resilient, sustainable aid to communities in need, and its vision is to connect people from around the world through mutual support.

In 1945, the town of Westport, Connecticut, USA, partnered with Marigny, France, to help rebuild after the destruction it suffered during World War II. Through this partnership, Westport’s generosity enabled Marigny to rebuild schools, municipal buildings, and the town square. This friendship has lasted to this day.

In 2022, the residents of Westport and Marigny extended their support to a new friend in need: Lyman, Ukraine. This was the beginning of a movement that now connects cities across the world with Ukraine’s most devastated communities. Ensuring Ukrainians don’t just survive the war, but can rebuild a community where they will thrive.

Zazymia

Zazymia Rural Territorial Community, located just northeast of Kyiv and bordering the capital, is a unified rural area established in 2020 as part of Ukraine’s decentralization reforms. It comprises six villages: Zazymia, Pohreby, Pukhivka, Rozhni, Litky, Litochky, and Sobolivka, with a pre-war population of approximately 11,800 residents spread across 258 square kilometers. The region has a mix of suburban and semi-rural character, featuring wooded areas, riverfront along the Desna River, and nearby protected forests, including part of the Zalissia National Preserve.

Geographically, the community is situated on the crucial edge of Kyiv. Its location has made it strategically significant, both economically, as it lies along a tributary river, and militarily, as it initially served as a buffer zone between the capital and the invading Russian army at the start of the war. During the initial phase of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the community played a direct role in stopping Russian forces from advancing toward Kyiv from the east. Local self-defense units, civilians, and Ukrainian military forces worked together to halt the advance at the community’s boundary, helping prevent the encirclement of the capital.

Because of its proximity to Kyiv and vital infrastructure, Zazymia remains vulnerable to regular missile and drone attacks. Between October 2025 and January 2026 alone, more than ten homes were destroyed, roughly two hundred were damaged, and civilian casualties occurred, including the death of a young mother, her infant child, and her school-aged niece. Over 600 residents of the community are currently serving in Ukraine’s armed forces. Despite these challenges, local governance remains strong and highly trusted. The community head, Vitalii Krupenko, was elected in 2020 with over 90 percent of the vote. Relations between the municipality, local businesses, and civil society are effective and cooperative, and the community is actively seeking international partnerships. 

Firetruck Funds

Given the missile and drone attacks that have occurred in Zazymia, the response to fires is a concern. Their firetruck is old (1970s), so they let us know that one wishlist item would be an updated firetruck. So our first fundraising goal will be a firetruck! Through its sister City program, UAI will use donations for Zazymia to purchase a fire truck at auction and then have it professionally inspected. They estimate the cost of a fire truck at approximately $15,000. If you are interested in donating funds toward the Zazymia projects, please use the QR code below. All donations are tax-deductible.

If you’d like to help beyond fundraising, we’re forming a subcommittee. Please email nschelling@townofpoundridge.gov, and we’ll get in touch with you soon.