It is believed that Sheffield was the first UK city to officially twin with a city in the Soviet Union. Town twinning developed after the end of World War Two with the aims of promoting peace and friendship between different parts of Europe. It later developed into a worldwide initiative.
Sheffield officially twinned with what was then known as Stalino (in Ukraine) in 1956. The city changed its name to Donetsk in 1961. Over the decades that followed the cities exchanged official greetings, particularly at new year and on May Day. There were also regular official visits to and from the two cities. Sporting and cultural links were also developed. Sheffield named a road in honour of its twin city (Donetsk Way) around 1981. Donetsk named a public Square - Sheffield Square (Shefіldskaga Square) in a similar manner.
The last official exchange visit appears to have been made in 1988. With the end of the Cold War in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 the ties between the two cities gradually loosened. Official links withered away.
This guide lists sources available within Sheffield Libraries Archives and Information for the study of the links between Sheffield and Donetsk.