Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, delivered a speech during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, where he presented the Ukrainian experience of ensuring community resilience, restoration of infrastructure, and the functioning of cities in the context of a full-scale war.

In his speech, Oleksii Riabykin emphasised that Ukraine is currently facing constant attacks, yet despite this, communities continue to function, provide essential services, and recover.

 

 

‘Ukrainian cities have adapted to the new circumstances: living under the threat of drones, missiles, guided bombs, and other ordnance. Despite everything, transport is running, public services are operating, hospitals are admitting patients, schools are continuing to teach, and communities remain governable,’ said Oleksii Riabykin.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that Ukraine is not postponing restoration until the post-war period, but is working on it every day. As an example, he gave Kyiv region, where around 80 per cent of more than 30,000 damaged or destroyed facilities have already been restored.

 

 

Oleksii Riabykin drew attention to the scale of the recovery needs. According to the RDNA5 assessment, prepared jointly by the World Bank, the European Union, the UN, and the Government of Ukraine, recovery needs over the next 10 years amount to USD 588 billion.

In his speech, the Deputy Minister presented the systematic approach Ukraine is taking to building the resilience of regions and communities. This involves comprehensive infrastructure resilience plans, which have already been approved at the national level and are being implemented in the regions.

The main priorities of these plans are:

• protection of critical infrastructure;
• development of distributed energy generation;
• resilient water supply and sanitation systems;
• reliable heat supply.

 

 

Oleksii Riabykin made a special emphasis on the principles underpinning the Ukrainian model of resilience: decentralised decision-making, modular infrastructure, strategic planning, and the strong role of communities.

‘Nowadays, Ukraine is not just a country in need of support. It is also a partner with practical solutions. Solutions on how to keep ports and railways running in the face of threats, maintain energy, water and heating supplies under shelling, and preserve control over territories during a crisis. This is an experience that cannot be modelled – it can only be lived through. And Ukrainian communities are ready to share it,’ emphasised Oleksii Riabykin.

The Deputy Minister also thanked the European Committee of the Regions for its unwavering support for Ukraine, its regions and communities. He highlighted the important role of the President of the European Committee of the Regions in strengthening cooperation between Ukrainian communities and European counterparts, as well as in supporting Ukrainian regions during the full-scale war.

 

 

Oleksii Riabykin called on representatives of European regions and municipalities to continue the dialogue at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), which will be held in Gdansk in June.

During the event, Ukraine will present practical solutions that are already being implemented in wartime conditions: underground schools and hospitals, critical infrastructure systems capable of withstanding attacks, as well as examples of rapid urban recovery after shelling.