Zhytomyr and Dresden Strengthen Cooperation within the U_CAN Project

From 24 to 27 September, the City of Dresden is welcoming a three-member delegation from Zhytomyr, Ukraine, to deepen their partnership in the U_CAN project. Zhytomyr is one of six U_CAN pilot cities, while Dresden serves as a partnering EU Mission City, supporting Ukrainian municipalities in their transition toward climate neutrality.

The Ukrainian delegation includes Maryna Kuznietsova, U_CAN project coordinator for Zhytomyr, Ms. Turovehyk from the City Development Agency and Ms. Olena Bondarchuk, head of the municipal Zelenbud department for flowers and ornamental plants and coordinator of the Greenhouse Rebuilt! initiative.

The visit focuses on urban gardening as a model for the sustainable re-use of city land. Zhytomyr plans to transform a 4,000 m² area with disused greenhouses into a vibrant space for community gardening and education under the Greenhouse Rebuilt! initiative. To gather practical insights, the delegation is exploring Dresden’s rich urban-gardening landscape, meeting with DeinFlof e.V., Wurzelwerk Pieschen, and Stadtgärten e.V. to learn about concepts, spatial solutions, and financing models that could inspire the redevelopment of the Zhytomyr site.

In addition to site visits, the programme offers opportunities for structured dialogue between the two cities and other U_CAN partners. Workshops and discussions in Dresden provide a platform to exchange ideas on climate-friendly urban development, citizen engagement, and innovative approaches to re-using urban space. The meetings build on previous contacts and highlight how the twinning of a Ukrainian pilot city with a European Mission City creates concrete opportunities for mutual learning and joint progress.

Dresden is also continuing its solidarity partnership with the Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi, another U_CAN participant, sharing experience in climate action and municipal cooperation to strengthen the network of European–Ukrainian collaboration.

This exchange demonstrates how European and Ukrainian cities can work hand in hand on the path to climate neutrality. By combining Dresden’s experience in sustainable urban planning with Zhytomyr’s ambitions for resilient reconstruction, the U_CAN partnership is helping both cities move toward a greener and more climate-resilient future.