Omaha, Nebraska, and Artemivsk, Ukraine, began a partnership in 1998 due to the coordinating efforts of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and their Community Partnerships Project. With an initial focus on strengthening local government operations, the partnership has expanded greatly to include initiatives that focus on business development, education, human services, and the arts.

This website, named using an English transliteration of the Ukrainian word for "friends," seeks to promote and expand this mutually beneficial relationship between Artemivsk and Omaha.

Artemivsk, known as Bakmut prior to 1924, was founded in 1571 and given city status in 1783. It occupies a 26 square mile area of the steppes located in the Donetsk Oblast, Donbass region of eastern Ukraine (less than 70 km from Russia). Its current population of 90,000 includes 69,200 voters, 47,250 women, 25,500 pensioners, and 18,280 youth under age 18. Russian is the primary language spoken in Artemivsk, although since gaining independence nearly ten years ago, Ukrainian is becoming more widespread. Eastern Orthodox is the predominant religion.

7.3 percent of the population works in government-owned enterprises; many of which failed during the past decade as markets dried up after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Approximately 2,500 people are self-employed, and an additional 3,000 people work for small businesses. Two large enterprises currently operate successfully, as they have been able to maintain, if not expand markets: the Artemivsk Salt Factory and the Artemivsk Champagne Factory.

The government is headed by a strong mayor who leads 60 volunteer deputies who are elected to represent 1,000- to 1,500-member districts. The City Council meets quarterly, but eight standing committees comprised of members of the City Council meet monthly: social policy; budget; communal property and housing; environment; health; education; youth; and sports. The City Council Executive Committee is comprised of eight departments: Economics and Forecasting; Finance; Municipal/Communal Property; City Architect; Land Resources; Social Protection; Subsidy; and Housing.

There are over fifty non-profit organizations registered in Artemivsk, including 14 political parties.

Located right in the center of the United States, Omaha is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 29, and is generally less than four hours by plane to either coast.

The territory that would eventually become the city of Omaha, Nebraska, was acquired as a part of the Louisiana Purchase, which was completed by Thomas Jefferson in 1803. The open plains of the central United States were, at this time, uncharted lands which held uncertain potential for the developing nation. Thanks to President Abraham Lincoln, Omaha was chosen as the eastern terminus of the transcontinental railroad – and today, Omaha is a booming metropolitan area of 723,210. Over one million people reside within a 50-mile radius of the city, making Omaha a regional trade and transportation center.

Omaha has a dynamic and diverse economy. Employment and business establishments have seen steady growth over the past several years. Currently, the metro area’s non-farm labor workforce tops 424,150.

The economy is well diversified – no employment sector accounts for more than 33% of total jobs. Omaha is the home of five Fortune 500 headquarters – ConAgra, Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, Peter Kiewit and Union Pacific. However, information technology is becoming a dominant force within the overall economy.

About 50,000 Omahans work in the 1,000 small and large information, data-processing and telecommunications companies involved in a host of services: investing, credit cards, long-distance telephone service, computer outsourcing, telemarketing and many more. Estimates are that over 20 million people call Omaha every day.