Calls for Coventry to suspend twinning with Russian city

There are calls to suspend Coventry's twinning arrangement with the Russian city of Volgograd after the invasion of Ukraine.

The request has been made by the Association of Ukrainians in the city, which is being backed by Coventry Conservatives.

The city's been twinned with Volgograd since 1944.

Coventry and Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, were the world’s first formal twin cities, sparking the international twin city movement.

The partnership was cemented as a result of both cities experiencing the devastation of the Second World War.

The battle of Stalingrad was one of the key turning points, with the battle for the city raging from spring 1942 to February 1943.

More than 1,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the city.

At the time of the onslaught, women from Coventry sent messages of hope to the women of Stalingrad, having experienced the Coventry Blitz just a few years earlier.

The first message said;

"From this city scarred and ravaged by the arch enemy of civilisation, our hearts go out to you, who now face slaughter and suffering even more fearful".

900 Coventry women signed their names (which were then embroidered) on the tablecloth and sent with a message of sympathy to the women of Stalingrad.

During wartime the people of Coventry also sent aid (supplies and medicines) to the people of Stalingrad.

We've contacted Coventry City Council to ask if they're considering suspending the partnership.

The City of Culture team has suspended work on a work with Volgograd though.

In a statement they said;

"Due to the events in recent days, we have taken the decision to postpone the public sharing of the Volgograd Digital Tablecloth. This is absolutely no reflection on those involved in the project, but we feel this is the right course of action for now.

"We are appalled by the events in Ukraine and send our thoughts to all affected as we join our partners in calling for urgent resolution to this hostility and a return to peace.

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