In Chaumont, the Chaumont-Semoutiers Drone School, opened in July 2023, is the French Army’s only training centre dedicated to drone operations. At a time when drones play a decisive role in modern warfare, this expertise has particular relevance in the context of Ukraine.
During her visit to Ukraine, the Mayor of Chaumont attended a drone demonstration in Kyiv, organized with the French team from Alta Ares, which is deployed alongside Ukrainian soldiers to enhance drone interception capabilities.
She also travelled to Kharkiv, where she met Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the 429th Independent Unmanned Systems Brigade “Achilles”, to discuss operational realities and the rapid evolution of technologies used on the battlefield.
Yet beyond innovation and technology lies another reality: that of cities living under constant threat. For the second time, Mayor Christine Guillemy visited Liubotyn, Chaumont’s partner city, located just a few dozen kilometres from the front line. Liubotyn is regularly targeted by Russian attacks, and the threat remains constant. Despite these conditions, the municipality continues to carry out its essential responsibilities with remarkable resilience: underground schools and kindergartens, an underground hospital, and public services that continue to operate.
The delegation laid wreaths in memory of the 96 heroes of Liubotyn who gave their lives defending Ukraine, before meeting with Mayor Leonid Lazurenko and local authorities. These exchanges reflected the city’s unwavering determination to continue serving its residents despite the war.
In the coming days, generators funded by the City of Chaumont will arrive in Liubotyn to provide backup power for its schools. This concrete initiative is part of the DesLumièresPourLHiver campaign, led by Stand With Ukraine and Electriciens sans frontières.
The visit highlighted the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people while further strengthening the friendship between Chaumont and Liubotyn, and reaffirming the vital importance of cooperation between local authorities in the face of war.
