To mark Youth Day and as part of the “Side by Side: United Communities” project, an online meeting was held between members of the 2026–2028 Youth Council of the Bakhmut City Community and their counterparts from the Youth Council of the Poltava City Community.
To mark the holiday, the young men and women gathered to feel a sense of support, share memories, and look toward the future together. Yaroslav Utenko, chief specialist of the Department of Youth Policy and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education within the Directorate of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, joined the meeting.
The Bakhmut residents spoke about their work during the evacuation. They remembered their fallen peers—young defenders, many of whom were not even 20 years old.
Yet despite their pain, the youth of Bakhmut cherish the warmth of their hometown and share it with others. Participants played the online game “Heart of Bakhmut,” which the Youth Council created specifically for the 455th anniversary of their hometown. Residents of the Poltava region were able to experience the history, streets, and spirit of the fortress city.
This collaboration has already become a fine tradition of partnership. Previously, when Poltava celebrated City Day, representatives of the Bakhmut community gladly joined a festive quiz in Poltava. Now, the people of Bakhmut have launched a reciprocal initiative and warmly invited the youth of Poltava to participate in the upcoming celebration of Bakhmut’s 455th anniversary.
The event concluded with an exchange of contact information, shared plans, and smiles. Bakhmut and Poltava now stand shoulder to shoulder, writing a shared story of resilience and unity.
Based on materials from the Bakhmut City Council