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Tallinn, Estonia and Lviv, Ukraine, have formalized a partnership aimed at bolstering urban safety and resilience through a newly signed memorandum of understanding. The agreement, focusing on civil protection and crisis preparedness, comes as Lviv continues to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and seeks to share its experiences with other European municipalities. This collaboration underscores a growing trend of cities proactively preparing for and responding to complex security threats and emergencies.
The partnership was initiated during an international meeting for European municipalities hosted in Lviv this week. Representing Tallinn was Deputy Mayor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Kristjan Järvan, a member of the Isamaa party. The core of the agreement centers on developing practical, community-focused solutions to enhance urban safety, a critical concern for cities across the continent. Järvan emphasized the value of shared knowledge and practical testing of novel approaches, stating, “Cooperation with Lviv and other municipalities helps expand our knowledge, understand what solutions cities truly require, and create opportunities to test them in practice.”
Focus on Innovation and Resilience
A key component of the collaboration will be an international 48-hour hackathon planned for 2026, organized by Tallinn’s Business Service. The event aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders – including city officials, start-ups, experts, and community members – to generate innovative ideas with the potential for rapid implementation and widespread adoption. This initiative reflects a commitment to leveraging technology and collaborative problem-solving to address urban challenges.
The partnership builds upon existing knowledge-sharing efforts. Last November, representatives from several Tallinn municipal agencies, including the Municipal Police, visited Kyiv and Zhytomyr to study local crisis management strategies. The visit to Lviv served as a continuation of this exchange, providing valuable insights into coping with difficult circumstances and maintaining essential city services. According to Järvan, the collaboration also allows Tallinn to assess the potential benefits of joining the Unbroken Cities network, an initiative actively led by Lviv.
Ukraine’s Experience Informs Estonian Preparedness
First Deputy Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Moskalenko, expressed his satisfaction with the new partnership, particularly in the area of civil protection. “It is very great that colleagues from Tallinn were able to approach to Lviv for our study visit within the framework of Unbroken Cities Network, they were able to see with their own eyes what we are going through,” Moskalenko said. “Which gave us a horizon for joint work, a focus on the topic of city resilience and, of course, defense.”
This isn’t the only Estonian-Ukrainian municipal collaboration. In 2024, the city of Tartu signed a Sister City agreement with Lviv, formalizing a long-standing relationship. Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi, speaking to ERR News at the time, highlighted the importance of such partnerships, stating, “I think every Ukrainian city and every Ukrainian community must have good collaborations with Estonian cities and Estonian communities.”
Järvan’s Recent Commentary on Estonian Policy
Deputy Mayor Järvan has been actively engaged in public discourse on a range of Estonian policy issues. According to Delfi, Järvan recently commented on government funding for public transportation, stating that Tallinn intends to increase its contribution while the national government is reducing theirs. He has also weighed in on topics such as pension reform, green energy policy, and urban planning, often offering critical perspectives on current government approaches.
Kristjan Järvan currently serves as Deputy Mayor of Tallinn in charge of transportation, having assumed the role on April 14, 2024, according to Wikipedia. Prior to this, he served as Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
Looking ahead, the Tallinn-Lviv partnership promises to be a valuable platform for exchanging best practices and developing innovative solutions to enhance urban resilience. The upcoming hackathon in 2026 will be a key milestone, providing a concrete opportunity to translate shared knowledge into tangible results. The collaboration also signals a broader trend of increased cooperation between European cities in addressing shared challenges and building more secure and sustainable urban environments.
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