For the first time in Ukraine, the concept of frontline territories has been officially defined. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has made the necessary changes to the State Strategy for Regional Development 2021–2027, incorporating a security-based approach to spatial and strategic planning for regional development.

This decision responds to the new realities of war that communities have been experiencing for several years. From now on, regional state policy will take the varying levels of security in different territories into account, as well as the specific characteristics of frontline and temporarily occupied communities.

The changes to the Strategy permit the updating of regional development priorities until 2027, the adaptation of recovery and financing instruments in response to military threats, and the harmonisation of Ukrainian regional policy with the European Union’s cohesion policy approaches.

‘This is not just about new terminology; it is about the potential for a systematic approach to planning recovery, financing, and support. The lack of a clear definition of territories has made effective planning of recovery measures difficult. Today’s decision formally recognises the concept of frontline territories and sets out the priorities of state policy for them for the first time. This enables the state to develop targeted support programmes for these territories and to integrate a security-based approach to financing priority projects. Until now, such an approach simply did not exist,’ emphasised Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories.

This essentially means that the state is saying that things will never be the same again. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for areas far behind the front line and communities just a few dozen kilometres away.

Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, shares this position. According to the Deputy Minister, the technical decision has very practical consequences:
‘Without a clear definition, effective planning is impossible. Frontline communities live with constant risk and destruction while taking on daily responsibility for others. Now, these realities are being taken into account in state regional policy. This opens up opportunities for tailored approaches to recovery, support, and financing. Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, decisions will be made that take into account the security, needs, and vulnerabilities of specific territories.’

Official recognition of frontline territories establishes a foundation for developing special support programmes, creating more accurate reconstruction plans, and allocating targeted funding to projects that are truly critical to communities in high-risk areas.