In 2025, over 200 facilities in communities were renovated, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, bomb shelters and water supply systems.

These include 115 facilities located in frontline areas: 23 bomb shelters, 35 medical facilities, 17 schools and kindergartens, 20 housing projects, 11 administrative service centres and security hubs, and 9 water supply facilities. Restoring such facilities is essential for frontline communities, as rebuilt residential buildings, renovated schools with bomb shelters and hospitals enable millions of people to live, work, and access basic social services at home despite daily threats.

In total, almost 600 projects worth UAH 14 billion in total are being implemented across Ukraine. This funding comes from the Recovery Programme, which is run in partnership with the European Investment Bank; remaining funds from EU sectoral support; and the State Regional Development Fund, which has provided funding for 48 projects.

 

 

For the first time this year, the selection of projects was carried out entirely through the DREAM ecosystem. Communities submitted applications, which were then assessed by regional military administrations. The Commission then reviewed the applications, with representatives of relevant ministries and all-Ukrainian associations of local governments in attendance. All meetings were attended by communities and regional military administrations. The RISE Ukraine coalition of civil society organisations was also involved in the selection process. For the first time, a separate and mandatory requirement was that projects had to comply with strategic development documents.

 

 

One of the regions on the front line today is Sumy region, which is under attack and experiencing damage to its energy sector and critical infrastructure. The state is providing support to such communities so that they can each resist and recover.

For example,

• In March 2022, the Zolotyi Kliuchyk (Golden Key) kindergarten in Sumy was damaged by a blast wave. Load-bearing structures were affected, and window and door frames were displaced or destroyed. This made the building impossible to use. Thanks to state (UAH 52.9 million) and local (UAH 19 million) budget funds, the kindergarten was restored. The central heating system and individual heating station were completely replaced; the exterior walls were insulated; lightning protection and modern street lighting systems were installed; and the windows were replaced with energy-efficient ones. The grounds were also landscaped. This has become a step towards a return to normal life for hundreds of families, and a symbol of resilience in wartime for the community. More than 230 children, including those internally displaced, evacuated from combat zones, and with special educational needs, can now enjoy comfortable and safe conditions.
• Between February and April 2022, a secondary school built in 2006 in Velykyi Sambir village, Konotop district, was damaged by the daily passage of large convoys of russian military equipment. Air raid sirens and threats to the lives and health of children and teachers also necessitated the construction of bomb shelters. Thanks to subsidies from the state and local budgets (UAH 10.4 and 3.1 million respectively), major repairs were carried out, including replacing windows and doors with modern, energy-efficient ones, repairing the roof and insulating the façade and attic, and completely renovating the bomb shelter. As a result, comfortable and safe conditions have been created for 96 schoolchildren and 13 preschoolers.
• The Lypova Dolyna Lyceum, built in 1978, required renovation due to the loss of thermal insulation properties in the wooden windows and doors, a crumbling façade, and uninsulated attics and basement causing heat loss. A large-scale overhaul was carried out using state and local budget funds. Work included insulating the façade, basement and attic; replacing all window and door units; installing an individual heating unit; installing lightning protection; repairing the power supply and emergency lighting systems; renovating the sewage system; rebuilding emergency exits; carrying out interior finishing works; landscaping the territory; and installing bicycle parking facilities. A total of UAH 47.3 million was allocated, with UAH 33.3 million coming from the state budget and UAH 14 million from the local budget. The installation of new windows and doors, the insulation of the walls and the construction of a modern heating station have significantly reduced heat loss. Meanwhile, the renovated corridors, dining hall and entrances have been given a modern, aesthetic look. ‘The renovated lyceum offers not only warm classrooms, but also a new educational space that promotes the health and comfort of students and teachers. We have created 21st-century conditions,’ commented the Lypova Dolyna settlement council. Today, more than 500 students study at the renovated lyceum.

In addition, work is ongoing at three infrastructure projects in Sumy region: a hospital in Shostka, a bomb shelter at a school in Romny, and the reconstruction of a water pipeline from the Luchanskyi water intake.

 

 

These projects form part of the systemic policy of the Ministry for Development to restore infrastructure. We are grateful to our international partners for their support of the Ukrainian communities.