Capital District Times

The culmination of an eight-day, cross-continent “Convoy of Hope” led by Ukraine Focus saw Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan joining Bucha Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk and volunteers from around the world. The group drove over 40 ambulances nearly 2,000 miles from Normandy, France through Germany, Austria, and Slovakia to their final destination in Bucha, Ukraine. Mayor Sheehan joined the convoy in Munich, Germany and drove an ambulance from Munich to Mukachevo, Ukraine before members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces led the convoy to Kyiv and Bucha.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan remarked, “It was truly an honor to join Mayor Fedoruk in Bucha today for a historic hospital groundbreaking in one of the cities hardest hit by the Russians during this terrible war in Ukraine. I have seen first-hand the resilience, pride, and strength the people of Ukraine possess, and I am so thankful we can deliver a small sliver of hope to this beautiful nation. I speak for mayors across New York State and the United States of America when I say how supportive we are of Ukraine as they repel the Russian invasion and work to rebuild. I also presented Mayor Fedoruk with a key to the City of Albany as a testament to our partnership. Today we took another step toward fostering a deeper relationship between Albany and Bucha, and I look forward to watching the relationship blossom even further in the decades to come.”

Approximately 80 years ago toward the end of World War II, Albany’s 72nd Mayor Erastus Corning II entered into a sister-city relationship with Nijmegen, Netherlands. Residents of Albany shipped more than 400 tons of goods and materials to assist Nijmegen as they sought to rebuild after Operation Market Garden. This relationship remains strong today.

In February 2023, Albany entered into a sister-city relationship with Bucha following similar circumstances. Russian war crimes caused significant devastation in Bucha. Responding to calls from common friends including then-New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos, Mayor Sheehan welcomed Mayor Fedoruk to Albany where they signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Since then, Albany has donated fifty sets of firefighter turnout gear, several computers, cases of medical equipment, and raised thousands of dollars for the ambulance convoy effort.

The Convoy of Hope began its journey on June 6 in northern France at the 80th anniversary remembrance ceremony for D-Day attended by David Galin on behalf of Mayor Sheehan.

The convoy's route included:

- June 7: Welcomed at Utah Beach by Charles de Vallavieille; traveled to Reims.

- June 8: Traveled from Reims to Munich (Mayor Sheehan joined).

- June 9: Traveled through Austria to Bratislava.

- June 10: Met U.S. Ambassador Gautam Rana and Ukrainian Ambassador Myroslav Kastran in Sereď; continued to Kosice.

- June 11: Crossed into Ukraine; stopped in Mukachevo.

- June 12: Partially traveled across Ukraine from Mukachevo to Kyiv.

- June 13: Remainder traveled from Mukachevo to Kyiv; continued to Bucha.

- June 14: Groundbreaking at new mental health hospital; delivery completed.

Photos & video from groundbreaking are available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-JcUltABbR7KCxk7zCF1Vwb3lchZafER?usp=sharing

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