Finnish cities join forces to support Ukraine

Together, they will assist the country with around EUR 1.5 million

On 28 February, Finland’s major cities teamed up to assist Ukraine. Together, they will provide support in the form of financial assistance or humanitarian aid worth a total of about EUR 1.5 million. These major cities are Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Vantaa, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kotka, Kouvola, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Porvoo and Rovaniemi.

“The war in Ukraine has caused a humanitarian emergency and help for those in the middle of the war is now important. The cities want to show their support for the Ukrainians in this very sad and shocking situation,” commented the mayors of the country’s major municipalities. 

On Facebook, the Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen revealed that the capital will donate EUR 350,000 to support the citizens of Ukraine. Aside from this support, the municipality is suspending its cooperation with the Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. 

Tampere lit up the Tammerkoski channel with the colours of the Ukrainian flag 
(Source: City of Tampere on Facebook)

Being a twin city of Kyiv since 1954, Tampere has also set aside EUR 150,000 to help the victims of the war. Mayor of Tampere Anna-Kaisa Ikonen discussed the municipality’s stance, sharing:

“We want to support the Ukrainians in the middle of the war. The crisis in Ukraine has also hit our residents hard, as our twin city of Kyiv is at the centre of the war. The goal is to get help moving efficiently and as quickly as possible.”

Urging others to provide assistance

Besides making financial contributions and sending humanitarian aid, Finland’s major cities are encouraging other municipalities in the country to step up and cooperate in any way that they can. 

Pirkkala, a city with just about 20,000 inhabitants, has now followed the examples of the larger municipalities, announcing that it will support Ukraine with financial assistance worth EUR 20,000.