{"id":38146,"date":"2022-02-28T14:40:50","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T14:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=38146"},"modified":"2022-02-28T14:40:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T14:40:50","slug":"hearts-are-breaking-sheffield-council-stand-with-twinned-ukrainian-city-donetsk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/02\/28\/hearts-are-breaking-sheffield-council-stand-with-twinned-ukrainian-city-donetsk\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHearts are breaking\u201d: Sheffield Council stand with twinned Ukrainian city Donetsk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Sheffield councillors have praised the “friendship” between Sheffield and Donetsk in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Coun Terry Fox, Coun Shaffaq Mohammed and Coun Douglas Johnson released their statement on the 25 February, and said their “hearts are breaking” for people in the country.<\/p>\n

They criticised Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Shaffaq Mohammed, councillor for Ecclesall and leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats, said: \u201cThere is a historic link that goes back many years. Our city councillors have been there. It\u2019s basically a friendship. We exchange visits and we exchange cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed<\/p><\/div>\n

Sheffield\u2019s relationship with the city began during the Cold War in 1956, and it intensified during the 1980\u2019s. It led to the creation of \u201cDonetsk Way\u201d which is one of the main roads around Hackenthorpe, near Beighton.<\/p>\n

The road name received little attention in the past, but it is now firmly in the spotlight as a result of recent events.<\/p>\n

The relationship between Sheffield and Donetsk was aided by the similarities between the two cities. Like Sheffield, Donetsk has a steel and mining heritage.<\/p>\n

Sheffield was the first city to twin with somewhere part of the former Soviet Union. \u00a0A park in Donetsk was named \u201cSheffield Park” in order to honour the twinning of the cities.<\/p>\n

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Sheffield Park, Donetsk<\/p><\/div>\n

Coun Douglas Johnson said about his statement: \u201cIt was an opportunity to actually show solidarity and show how close this war in Europe is to people\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an incredibly difficult time for people in Donetsk.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Councillor Douglas Johnson<\/p><\/div>\n

Angela Smith, 66, a Sheffield local who grew up near Donetsk Way said: \u201cOriginally it would have been in connection with Russia, the name, but now it\u2019s gone the other way. I think people now will be proud of it.<\/p>\n

I will look at it every day and think of Zolensky.\u201d<\/p>\n