Bob Herring wears his love of Kharkiv, Ukraine — Cincinnati's sister city — on his sleeve wherever he goes.It was on full display out in front of his home Monday. The blue and yellow Ukrainian flag flies there around the clock.When news of a surprise visit to Ukraine by President Joe Biden was announced Tuesday, he felt an even deeper resolve. "To take that risk, you know, to fly into the country, it's incredible," Herring said. "And very much appreciated."Herring chairs the Cincinnati/Kharkiv sister city partnership. He will address City Council on Wednesday and review the support generated within the local community during the past year.On Friday, Herring will join Mayor Aftab Pureval, Congressman Greg Landsman, and other dignitaries to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's incursion.No further fundraising event is imminent as far as the partnership is concerned, at least not yet."We're waiting for the dust to settle, if you will, after the anticipated Russian assault in the Spring," Herring said. "What will conditions be like on the ground in Kharkiv when that assault is over? What will their needs be? And that's when we'll be in direct communication with the Kharkiv Red Cross. Tell us what you need and we'll do what we can to provide funding for that."Herring and others are cognizant about not going to the well too often. They do not want to unwittingly create donor fatigue.So, they are biding their time as the start of a second year of war in Ukraine approaches. But, it is not easy for Herring to wait while so much suffering is going on.He shared a number he received from the Kharkiv Red Cross right before Christmas. It is the type of number that war produces in a lasting manner."Seven hundred and fifty kids that they're working with, that they know, whose dads are dead or missing," Herring said.As he started to say more, his eyes started to fill with water."Seven...hundred and fifty," he said.As a grandfather of five, the enormity of the number seemed etched on his face."That's tough at the holidays. And the future for those kids," Herring said. He shared a picture of five high school kids he met when he was in Kharkiv in 2019."I don't know where they are," he said in a low tone. "I don't know if they're dead or alive."What he knows, what he carries deep within him, is a conviction that Vladimir Putin must not be permitted to prevail in the war on Ukraine. The war has interrupted daily life in Ukraine and even the technical bond between the two cities.The Memorandum of Understanding has been renewed every five years.The last signing was in May 2017 when then-Mayor John Cranley was joined at City Hall by Ihor Terekhov, then Vice Mayor, now Mayor of Kharkiv, and Irina Backumenko, President of the Partnership, currently in Great Britain.Now, it has expired.Getting the MOU re-signed will have to wait for a cessation of hostilities.Herring still considers local support for Ukraine to be strong, although he doesn't get as many questions about it as he used to.The week will conclude with a Friday night candlelight vigil at Wyoming Presbyterian Church.Herring's hoping Cincinnati will keep its support on full display in a second uncertain year of the war.
Bob Herring wears his love of Kharkiv, Ukraine — Cincinnati's sister city — on his sleeve wherever he goes.
It was on full display out in front of his home Monday. The blue and yellow Ukrainian flag flies there around the clock.
When news of a surprise visit to Ukraine by President Joe Biden was announced Tuesday, he felt an even deeper resolve.
"To take that risk, you know, to fly into the country, it's incredible," Herring said. "And very much appreciated."
Herring chairs the Cincinnati/Kharkiv sister city partnership. He will address City Council on Wednesday and review the support generated within the local community during the past year.
On Friday, Herring will join Mayor Aftab Pureval, Congressman Greg Landsman, and other dignitaries to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's incursion.
No further fundraising event is imminent as far as the partnership is concerned, at least not yet.
"We're waiting for the dust to settle, if you will, after the anticipated Russian assault in the Spring," Herring said. "What will conditions be like on the ground in Kharkiv when that assault is over? What will their needs be? And that's when we'll be in direct communication with the Kharkiv Red Cross. Tell us what you need and we'll do what we can to provide funding for that."
Herring and others are cognizant about not going to the well too often. They do not want to unwittingly create donor fatigue.
So, they are biding their time as the start of a second year of war in Ukraine approaches. But, it is not easy for Herring to wait while so much suffering is going on.
He shared a number he received from the Kharkiv Red Cross right before Christmas. It is the type of number that war produces in a lasting manner.
"Seven hundred and fifty kids that they're working with, that they know, whose dads are dead or missing," Herring said.
As he started to say more, his eyes started to fill with water.
"Seven...hundred and fifty," he said.
As a grandfather of five, the enormity of the number seemed etched on his face.
"That's tough at the holidays. And the future for those kids," Herring said.
He shared a picture of five high school kids he met when he was in Kharkiv in 2019.
"I don't know where they are," he said in a low tone. "I don't know if they're dead or alive."
What he knows, what he carries deep within him, is a conviction that Vladimir Putin must not be permitted to prevail in the war on Ukraine.
The war has interrupted daily life in Ukraine and even the technical bond between the two cities.
The Memorandum of Understanding has been renewed every five years.
The last signing was in May 2017 when then-Mayor John Cranley was joined at City Hall by Ihor Terekhov, then Vice Mayor, now Mayor of Kharkiv, and Irina Backumenko, President of the Partnership, currently in Great Britain.
Now, it has expired.
Getting the MOU re-signed will have to wait for a cessation of hostilities.
Herring still considers local support for Ukraine to be strong, although he doesn't get as many questions about it as he used to.
The week will conclude with a Friday night candlelight vigil at Wyoming Presbyterian Church.
Herring's hoping Cincinnati will keep its support on full display in a second uncertain year of the war.
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