
KINGSTON, N.Y. — Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger signed off on a “Sister Community” agreement with the Chernivtsi region in Ukraine on Friday that officials say is the first in the U.S. between a county and a Ukrainian region.
Metzger and Ulster County Legislature Chair Peter Criswell signed off on the “Sister Community” agreement with Chernivtsi Regional Council of Ukraine in a virtual signing ceremony, joined local leaders and members of the Ukrainian-American community.
The virtual ceremony also brought together Chernivtsi Regional Council members Oleksii Boiko, Chairman of the Chernivtsi Regional Council; Mykhailo Pavliuk, Deputy Chairman of the Chernivtsi Regional Council; and Yurii Bodnar, Head of the Department for International Relations and Cross-Border Cooperation, officials said in an announcement.
The Sister Community agreement was approved by the Ulster County legislature by a 21-1 vote at its April 15 session. Legislator Joseph Maloney, R-Saugerties, cast the sole no vote.
“The Sister Community agreement aims to foster opportunities for education, cultural exchange, and municipal collaboration,” Metzger’s office said.
“The world knows that Ukraine is fighting for its independence, suffers from Russian shelling every day, and our soldiers are laying down their lives on the battlefield, so it is important for every Ukrainian to know that we are not alone in our struggle,” Oleksii Boiko, chairman of the Chernivtsi Regional Council, said in a prepared statemetn. “Every agreement, every project implemented, every handshake between partners is a reminder of support that Ukraine is an important and independent state, that the death of soldiers is not in vain, because the country they died for is alive!”
“This agreement reflects Ulster County’s deep commitment to building bridges — not just between governments, but between people,” Metzger said in the release. “I am incredibly proud that Ulster County is leading the way as the first County in the United States to establish this meaningful connection with a Ukrainian region and show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We have a lot to learn from one another, and I look forward to a fruitful partnership.”
Criswell said he was proud to see the county partner with the Chernivtsi Regional Council.
“This agreement reflects the values we hold dear — community, democracy, and mutual support — and demonstrates the role local leadership can play in global solidarity,” Criswell said, in a prepared statement.
Members of the local Ukrainian-American community shared remarks during the virtual event.
“My parents met in Chernivtsi,” said Meira Blaustein, co-founder and executive director of the Woodstock Film Festival. “It was 1945, the end of World War ll. My mother, Riva, my uncle Monia, and my grandparents Sonia and Meir just escaped four years of hard labor camp in Siberia and were living in a one room attic, when my mother met my father, Senia. At the start of the war my father, then a med student, volunteered for the Red Army to fight against the Germans and was hit by a bullet. Wounded, he was discharged and was given a two-bedroom apartment in Chernivtsi. Once he met my mother, the two fell in love, and Senia, smitten, gave his two-bedroom apartment to Riva and her family, with him moving to their one room attic. After a year living in Chernivtsi, they all left and started the harrowing trip across Europe towards Israel.”
“If Riva and Senia did not meet in Chernivtsi, I would not have been born, and the Woodstock Film Festival would not exist!” Blaustein added.
“Cooperation among cities and nations is the best armor against ignorance and tyranny,” said the Rev. Ivan Kaszczak, Pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson. “Friendship is more valuable than riches.”
SUNY Ulster Administrative Services Specialist Irena Wisneski immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine when she was 18 years old and still has relatives living there, including her dad’s cousin, who lives in Chernivtsi with his family and sons. “It shows that we care and support the people of Ukraine, and it gives them hope and faith to keep standing in the fight for their freedom,” she said.
Halyna Shepko, founder of the Mokosh Ukrainian Weaving Center, said the agreement strengthens bonds and brings hope during Ukraine’s fight for freedom. “I look forward to cultural and educational exchanges, such as a virtual weaving project on Bukovinian tapestry traditions, which will enrich both communities,” she added.
Larysa Melnyk Dyrszka, a Ukrainian American from Sullivan County and a retired pediatrician, said Chernivtsi with its “magical forests” and hilly terrain including the Carpathian Mountains reminds her of Ulster County’s foothills and mountains.
“The Carpathian Mountains are home to a unique, sophisticated people called the Hutsuls,” she said. “Their folklore includes intricate designs on Easter eggs as well as their clothing and woodworking. The Hutsuls believed that the fate of the world is connected to the art of pysanka, the Ukrainian Easter egg.”
In February 2024, the city of Kingston signed a “sister city” agreement with the Ukrainian city of Sokyryany.