Freiburg Joins the UNBROKEN Cities Network
Lviv’s sister city and long-standing partner, Freiburg, has joined the UNBROKEN Cities Network. Today in Lviv, Martin Horn, Mayor of the German city of Freiburg im Breisgau, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The UNBROKEN Cities Network now brings together 19 member cities, as well as the City of Lviv.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi emphasized that cooperation between the sister cities is an example of genuine partnership during the most difficult times for Ukraine.
“It is a great honour for us that our sister city has stood by our side for so many years. This is an example for other cities of what it means to be a true partner in such difficult times,” said Andriy Sadovyi.
On behalf of the Lviv community, the Mayor presented the Mayor of Freiburg with the Iron Lion award, as well as a commemorative postage stamp dedicated to Lviv’s 770th anniversary.
For his part, Freiburg Mayor Martin Horn addressed Lviv residents in Ukrainian, stressing that support in difficult times should be demonstrated not only through words but also through concrete actions.
“We need to support one another in difficult situations. It is important that you are not alone. We need not only words, but actions. We want to implement concrete projects in education, the economy, business and culture, as well as projects supporting children,” said Martin Horn.
The Mayor of Freiburg also emphasized the special friendship between the two cities, which has lasted for more than four decades.
“This is a special friendship. It has lasted for more than 45 years. In such difficult times, we must strengthen our partnership even further. I am deeply impressed by Lviv, by the courage of its residents and by the strength of the city. The Freiburg community has supported Lviv for many years and will continue to do so. We will support UNBROKEN projects until they are completed, and we will remain by your side afterwards as well.
On behalf of Freiburg City Council and our residents, I want to say: we stand with you. We will continue to support you. This is not only about helping you — we are also learning a great deal from Lviv. Your city demonstrates remarkable speed in decision-making, innovation and strength, which is truly impressive,” Martin Horn emphasized.
In 1989, Lviv and Freiburg signed an agreement establishing their partnership. At the time, the Mayor of the German city was Rolf Böhme.
Today, his daughter Hanna Böhme also visited Lviv as part of the delegation. She is the Managing Director of the Association of Industrial Companies of Baden-Württemberg. She shared her memories of the day the partnership agreement was signed and her impressions of visiting Lviv.
“I was already in Lviv in 2011 together with my mother. My father was Mayor of Freiburg 36 years ago, when our cities became sister cities. My parents were here on the very day when the Ukrainian flag was raised over Lviv City Hall for the first time. That day, the City Council made two historic decisions: to raise the Ukrainian flag and to sign the sister-city agreement between Freiburg and Lviv.
I was only 14 years old at the time, but after that visit my parents often spoke about Lviv. There were always many guests from your city in our home. My parents returned here many times, as did all of my brothers.
It is a great honour for me to be back in Lviv and to see how much the friendship between our cities has strengthened, especially at this extremely difficult time for Ukraine. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be here today. It is also particularly symbolic because today is my father’s birthday. He passed away several years ago, but I am sure that today he is here with us,” Hanna Böhme said.
Background
The UNBROKEN Cities Network is an international initiative founded by Lviv, Manchester and Liverpool. It brings together cities from around the world to cooperate on resilience, exchange experience in responding to crises, and implement joint educational initiatives. Today, the network comprises 19 cities, as well as the City of Lviv.
Freiburg is one of Lviv’s most active international partners and was among the first cities to contribute to the development of the UNBROKEN ecosystem.
Among the most important joint projects are:
- €500,000 for the construction of one floor of the UNBROKEN rehabilitation centre;
- the “NaDiia — Hope and Action” charity project, which raised €40,000, with Freiburg City Council contributing an additional €60,000;
- €100,000 for the reconstruction of Lviv Lyceum No. 5 following a Russian attack;
- annual summer camps in Freiburg for children from Lviv;
- €1 million in funding to establish the UNBROKEN Art Workshop, an art space for veterans and people wounded in the war;
- regular professional exchanges between educators and representatives of local governments.
Martin Horn has served as Mayor of Freiburg im Breisgau since 2018. In 2026, he was re-elected as mayor. He places particular emphasis on sustainable development, environmental issues and international cooperation, and describes the partnership with Lviv as one of the most important examples of European solidarity with Ukraine.