UNBROKEN Cities Network Co-Founder Becomes UK Prime Minister
Andy Burnham, one of the co-founders of the UNBROKEN Cities Network and the long-serving Mayor of Greater Manchester, has become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
This is a significant milestone for the UNBROKEN Cities Network, as Greater Manchester has been one of the initiative’s key international partners since its inception, helping to strengthen cooperation between cities in the areas of resilience, crisis management, and recovery.
Today, the UNBROKEN Cities Network brings together 19 cities from 12 countries across three continents. It serves as an international platform that enables cities to exchange practical experience in responding to crises, develop joint solutions, and prepare for future challenges.
“The UNBROKEN Cities Network is about cities standing shoulder to shoulder and turning solidarity into real support. We are incredibly proud to be one of its co-founders alongside the Liverpool City Region and the City of Lviv,” Andy Burnham said during a meeting with Ukrainian mayors in Greater Manchester.
Congratulations to Andy Burnham on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom!
This is particularly meaningful news for Lviv. Andy is our friend and a co-founder of the UNBROKEN Cities Network, which has brought together cities that support Ukraine and help one another become stronger.
During Ukraine’s most difficult years, Andy stood with us. He supported Ukrainians, helped our communities, and became a true friend of Lviv.
I am confident that under his leadership, the partnership between the United Kingdom and Ukraine will become even stronger. I wish him every success in his new role. We look forward to welcoming him back to Lviv!” wrote Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi on his social media pages.
In April 2026, at Andy Burnham’s initiative, Greater Manchester hosted Ukrainian mayors and municipal representatives for a two-day study programme focused on crisis response, the operation of critical infrastructure, and community psychological resilience. The programme became another example of how international cooperation can be transformed into practical solutions and mutual learning.
The network operates on the principle of peer-to-peer learning, connecting practice, education, and international partnership. One of its key pillars is the educational programmes delivered by the School of Municipal Governance at UNBROKEN University, which help municipalities strengthen their expertise in resilience and crisis management.
Over the past two years, the network has expanded significantly. Its members now include cities from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Latvia, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Ukraine.
