Worried sick for Modesto’s sister city in Ukraine, assaulted by Russian forces
In a place of honor on the mayor’s desk — next to a photo of Sue Zwahlen’s family — sits a solitary Christmas card from the other side of the world, a worrisome reminder of violence newly rending Modesto’s sister city in Ukraine.
“May peace, harmony and blessings of this amazing time be yours,” wrote Khmelnytskyi Mayor Oleksandr Symchyshyn in the card to Zwahlen.
Peace and harmony must seem a distant dream in Khmelnytskyi, now that Russian forces have begun an assault on its east European neighbor. A New York Times map pinpointing airstrikes or attacks in the new war suggest that Khmelnytskyi, in west Ukraine, has been targeted.
Zwahlen on Thursday declared herself “definitely affected by this horrible action.” The holiday card occupies the prominent spot by her computer because the fate of unmet friends is “close to my heart,” said the mayor, who has been in office just over a year.
The Christmas card was time-stamped Feb. 9 — a delay perhaps indicating coming trouble as Ukraine prepared for war.
Khmelnytskyi (say “mel-NIT-ski”) in 1987 became the second of Modesto’s seven sister cities throughout the world, following only Vernon, Canada (1983). Others embraced later are Kurume, Japan (1992), Vijayawada, India (1993), Aguascalientes, Mexico (1995), Laval, France (2011) and Mengzi, China (2011).
In our 35-year relationship, Modesto has sent numerous delegations to Ukraine, and vice versa. A team from Khmelnytskyi is scheduled to arrive March 11 with a stated desire to study how American counties like Stanislaus interact with cities such as Modesto.
Now that Ukraine is defending itself and with the country in chaos, no one knows if those plans will materialize, said Catrina Girard, board president of Modesto Sister Cities International.
“Our mission is to promote global peace and harmony through mutual respect and understanding that is not politically motivated,” Girard said in an interview Thursday.
In 2014, for example, a delegation of five Ukrainian lawyers shared their nation’s struggles during a presentation at Stanislaus State University because Russian President Vladimir Putin had just annexed Crimea, setting off deep concern in nearby Khmelnytskyi.
“Ukraine does not want to be a part of Russia,” said Olena Lysenko, a law professor at Lviv National University, in an eerie prophecy captured by The Modesto Bee.
The Crimea aggression was “kind of hard emotionally because there’s uncertainty about what happens next and what territory they’re going to send troops to,” agreed Khmelnytskyi attorney Iryna Royik at the time.
“I think it’s just wrong to invade someone else’s country,” said Tetyana Sivak, another attorney in Khmelnytskyi.
Girard said she’s unsure when someone here might hear from someone there. “We’re concerned for the people of Ukraine and especially our friends in Khmelnytskyi and the surrounding area,” she said.
Just after news of the invasion broke, Zwahlen decided that the next Modesto City Council meeting — Tuesday evening — will feature a moment of silent reflection for our sister city.
“I really can’t imagine the fear and uncertainty they’re feeling,” the mayor said. “There is so much uncertainty, confusion and concern. I feel for them.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
