(The Center Square) – A new plan formalized Sunday means Pennsylvania will support economic recovery efforts in southeastern Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the war-torn country’s president, watched as an official from the Zaporizhzhia Regional State (Military) Administration signed the agreement at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant on Sunday. The Lackawanna County facility manufactures the 155-millimeter howitzer rounds considered “vital” for Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
Zelenskyy, in a statement posted on X, said “the dedication of the workers, which is truly inspiring – they are helping Ukraine stand strong in our fight for freedom.”
“I am grateful to the people of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and all the states where Americans are building this incredible arsenal of global freedom,” he said. “Together, we are strengthening the defense of liberty and democracy.”
During my visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, where components for artillery and mortar shells are produced, including 155 mm shells for Ukraine, I emphasized the dedication of the workers, which is truly inspiring—they are helping Ukraine stand strong in our fight for… pic.twitter.com/rs0vLZRlVU— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 23, 2024
Gov. Josh Shapiro, who toured the plant alongside Zelenskyy, said the deal will “strengthen both states and foster collaboration for years to come.”
“Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American freedom – and our commonwealth proudly stands with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom against naked aggression,” he said.
According to a report from Reuters, Russian airstrikes in Zaporizhzhia injured 16 civilians overnight. Ivan Fedorov, the city’s governor, said 12 settlements across the region have been battered by 363 air and ground attacks.
Zaporizhzhia and its surrounding communities border the Dnipro River and offer some of Ukraine’s most productive farming ground. It’s also home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, making it a strategic target for occupying Russian forces.
That’s why agriculture and energy are among two of the prioritized industries that the Department of Community and Economic Development will help regional leaders develop through workshops, visits and meetings over the next five years, according to the agreement.
Earlier this month, more than 150 soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed to Germany as part of a federal effort to help train Ukrainian military forces in how to use specialized equipment in the ongoing war.
“Training is key to Ukraine’s continued success on the battlefield,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Our Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers are in Germany, away from their families and loved ones in support of this mission.”
Pennsylvania is home to one of the largest pockets of Ukrainian culture in the country, with more than 120,000 declaring heritages to the nation. Tens of thousands have settled in the state since Russian launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
