Oleksii Chernyshov, Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, spoke at the ReVIVEd Ukraine – ReVIVEd Communities Forum, which took place on June 2 in Kyiv.

He thanked the heads of cities and municipalities for showing courage, dedication and care for their compatriots and IDPs in unpredictable wartime conditions. Local self-governments are currently making great efforts to handle daily tasks such as ensuring the proper functioning of municipalities, accepting IDPs and organising assistance to municipalities where hostilities are taking place. Minister Oleksii Chernyshov stressed that local authorities show resilience on a daily basis, and local self-government has become the framework for civil defence and the rear.

Addressing the Forum, Oleksii Chernyshov noted that today local self-government faces the following priority challenges: taking care of the life and health of fellow citizens, as well as internally displaced persons and the education of their children; ensuring that cities, towns and villages are run smoothly; supporting businesses under martial law, including creating relaxed business conditions and supporting export-oriented companies.

In view of this, the Government and the Verkhovna Rada are working together on the following priority areas:

• Financing of expenses in the wartime conditions;
• Enhancing the institutional capacity of communities;
• Prompt expert assessment of material damage;
• Urgent restoration of destroyed facilities;
• Social support for IDPs.

“Within three months, the Government and the Parliament have already made a number of important decisions to ensure the capacity of local self-governments, establishing the Territorial Defence, ensuring public security and the functioning of the public sector, as well as the operation of public utilities under martial law. Decentralisation has contributed to our unity, and I believe that in productive cooperation we will be able to shape and implement the architecture of the revived Ukraine. Together we will win!” said Oleksii Chernyshov.