In the frontline regions, life is challenging and unstable, yet people are extremely resilient. People stay, work and fight for their future. It is for these communities, businesses and families that the Ukrainian Government is developing a special comprehensive support programme.

Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, announced this during a working trip to the Kharkiv region as part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit.

A meeting with representatives from the business, veteran and volunteer communities, as well as educators and students, in Kharkiv provided a platform for discussing new approaches to supporting regions on the front line.

What does the Government programme offer?

As Oleksii Kuleba explained, the new initiative will not offer a universal solution. Instead, it will be based on specific tools designed to provide assistance at all levels:

• for people who continue to live and work in the frontline areas;
• for communities that maintain economic, social and administrative stability;
• for businesses that continue to operate, create jobs and pay taxes.

‘The programme will cover all levels, from supporting individual families to attracting investors and providing guarantees for employers. The focus is on maintaining a stable presence in frontline areas where the situation remains challenging, protecting the economy, and preserving communities,’ emphasised Oleksii Kuleba.

Key areas of support:

Increased salaries for educators, medical staff and civil servants working in frontline regions.

Housing solutions for families: the state plans to cover the initial mortgage payments of those who continue to live and work in communities close to the front line.

Tax incentives and personnel benefits for business:

• reducing the tax burden;
• expanding the possibility of reserving from conscription employees for enterprises operating in frontline and border communities.

The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine continues to work systematically on support tools, involving relevant ministries, local authorities and international partners in this process.

Why is this important right now?

Reconstruction does not begin after victory – it is already underway. The strongest front of resilience lies precisely with the communities that remain. Those living on the edge of the country deserve to be at the focus of state policy. Such attention is already being given.