Ukraine's ambassador has described lying awake listening to the frightening sounds of missile attacks, while urging Australian communities to reach out to the war-torn country.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko returned from a three-week trip to Ukraine on Monday, having been in the country when the Kakhovka dam was destroyed, causing widespread catastrophic flooding.
A wave of missile strikes hit Kyiv in the last month, likely the worst since Russia's invasion in February last year, Mr Myroshnychenko told a conference in Canberra on Wednesday.
"You can't really sleep because you wake up in the middle of the night during all these explosions," he said.
"It's a bit bizarre because people try to live a life despite all of the atrocities, all of the sadness."
The ambassador said Ukrainian people needed support from Australian towns and cities, like that from the City of Tea Tree Gully, in northeast Adelaide.
The council signed a sister city agreement with Borodyanka, near the capital, which was almost razed during the early months of Russia's invasion.
"Any assistance right now will be highly appreciated, if there is an opportunity to fundraise in the community and help rebuild the schools and help rebuild the hospitals, this is what we need." he told the nation's 537 councils at the Australian Local Government Association's general assembly.
"You see this massive destruction which is ... ongoing and the human suffering."
City of Tea Tree Gully mayor Marijka Ryan called on other councils to "reach out across the ocean", and said it was humbling to sign the agreement.
"My heart was singing, it was something I could do," she told reporters outside the conference.
Ms Ryan, whose parents were born in Ukraine, said while Adelaide was welcoming refugees, more could be done.
"It's more ... to let them know there are people on the other side of the earth that do care about them.
"And for the exchange of culture and, potentially, employment, and opportunities, to open up the channels."
Ms Ryan hopes her region will be able to provide ideas and technology for rebuilding once the war is over.
The ambassador also thanked the City of Melbourne for severing ties with its sister city St Petersburg in response to calls from the Ukrainian community.
Mayors from around Australia are at the national conference, which will host debate on more than 100 motions for more federal support on climate change, local clean energy transitions and skills shortages.
Local Government Minister Catherine King said $2.3 billion worth of Financial Assistance Grants will be fast-tracked, allowing councils untied spending on priority projects.
The government set aside $3.1 billion for the grants over the next year in last month's budget.
"Just as Australians are doing it tough, we know that in the current fiscal climate, local governments are also facing difficult times," Ms King said.
