Lagos Strengthens Ties with Ukrainian Municipality in Odessa Region
In a move that reinforces its international outreach, the municipality of Lagos has approved a Collaboration Agreement with Pivdenne, a Ukrainian town formerly known as Yuzhny, located in the Odessa region. The agreement was formally approved during the most recent meeting of the Lagos city council.
This new partnership is underpinned by several commonalities between the two municipalities, including their coastal locations, tourism-driven economies, historical legacies, and comparable population sizes. However, the driving force behind the initiative is the presence of a vibrant and well-integrated Ukrainian community in Lagos, which has become a focal point for local cooperation, especially since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Portugal
Initial steps toward this intermunicipal partnership date back to 2024, following an outreach initiative by the then-municipality of Yuzhny. The momentum grew significantly after a visit to Lagos by Maryna Mykhailenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Portugal. Her visit was part of a broader diplomatic tour of the Algarve region, during which she was accompanied by representatives from Oranta—the Association for Support to the Ukrainian Community in Portugal. Oranta has played a key intermediary role in organizing numerous support and solidarity initiatives for the Ukrainian people in the region.
During her visit, Ambassador Mykhailenko emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation to complement ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian support. Citing the visits of senior Portuguese officials to Ukraine and reaffirming her confidence in continued foreign backing, she highlighted the need for grassroots alliances—such as the one now formalized between Lagos and Pivdenne.
The agreement, set to be signed by Lagos Mayor Hugo Pereira and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Novatskyy, outlines several objectives: the exchange of experiences and mutual enrichment; the promotion of tolerance, solidarity, and inclusion; and the celebration of local identities through cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing.
For Mayor Pereira, this partnership reflects both the long-standing openness of Lagos to international collaboration and the municipality’s alignment with Portugal’s 2030 Cooperation Strategy. The national strategy emphasizes the role of local governments and aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Ultimately, Pereira affirmed, this agreement is another clear indication that Lagos remains steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian people and their ongoing struggle.
