Edinburgh and Kyiv - Why the two capitals became sister cities over 30 years ago

In recent days, Edinburgh has pulled together to make an overwhelming effort to assist Ukraine as the battle an ongoing invasion from Russia.

Since the harrowing events began, a number of protests have taken place in the capital, with locals desperate to support the country in every possible way.

Donation points have also been launched across Edinburgh, with supplies from clothing to food flooding in to be delivered to those in need thousands of miles away.

You can find all of the Edinburgh donation points delivering emergency goods and aid to Ukraine here.

With all eyes on the Ukrainian capital, many in Edinburgh are unaware that their home is actually twinned with Kyiv, with the two capitals having been 'sister cities' for over 30 years.

When was Edinburgh twinned with Kyiv?

The two cities were twinned together in, 1989, with the agreement between the two capitals signed in Kyiv itself.

The decision meant Edinburgh then had ten sister cities around the world, from Aalborg in Denmark to Dunedin in New Zealand.

At the time, Kyiv was still part of the Soviet Union.

Why were the two twinned together?

Although Edinburgh had a number of international sister cities, there was none in that part of the world, leaving council officials looking for a partnership.

With the idea of a modern sister city coming about in the years after WWII, the point of the connection was to create cultural and commercial ties.

Despite being a significant distance away from the Scottish capital, Kyiv was very similar to Edinburgh, with both cities steeped in history.

What do they have in common?

As mentioned, both Edinburgh and Kyiv are extremely historic, with Kyiv thought to be one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe.

Having been made independent in the 1990s, the capital of Ukraine is also home to an UNESCO heritage site, much like in Edinburgh.

With Edinburgh's Old and New Town known to be a heritage site, so is Kyiv's Saint-Sophia Cathedral, with the stunning building thought to have been constructed in the 11th century.

Complete with its Related Monastic buildings, the churches, monasteries and caves are said to be where saints were buried.

Kyiv is also known to be a scientific, educational and cultural hub in Eastern Europe, much like Edinburgh is in the west.