Today, the Mayor of Konotop City in Ukraine Artyom Semenikhin with a delegation paid a visit to Panevėžys City Municipality.

“Thank you for your visit at this difficult time for your country. Thank you for your fight, defending not only your country, but also the values and future of the entire democratic world. Panevėžys has a partner city Vinnytsia in Ukraine, with which we are constantly maintaining the contacts. The people of Panevėžys have been collecting food, hygiene products, and monetary support for the Ukrainians who are fighting for the freedom of the nation. The citizens of Panevėžys are helping the Ukrainians staying here," said Rytis Račkauskas, the Mayor of the City of Panevėžys.

A. Semenikhin thanked the whole country and Panevėžys for active help in a difficult time and talked about the current situation in Ukraine. Before the war, the Konotop region had a strong economic potential - industry made for about 83 percent of all production. Konotop is only 50 kilometres from the border with Russia, thus, this area is constantly shelled, roads, buildings, and the well-being of people are destroyed. During the visit, representatives of Ukraine expressed their desire to become partner cities in the future after the war ends. "We have been observing Panevėžys for some time now, we see how you are rapidly renovating, and you are perfectly implementing projects financed by the European Union. So, we would like to gain experience from you in the future. It would be great if we became partner cities," said A. Semenikhin.

The authorities of the City of Konotop have discussed the possibilities of cooperation with the Regional Hospital of Panevėžys.