On 14 May in Kyiv, the Polaris Programme ‘Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine’ handed six more sets of cars and equipment to partner hromadas for the provision of public services to local residents.

A new round of support has been provided to the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, the Putyvl hromada in Sumy Oblast, the Kazankiv hromada in Mykolaiv Oblast, the Zmiiv hromada in Kharkiv Oblast, the Kuialnyk hromada in Odesa Oblast, and the Verkhnodniprovsk hromada in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

"Strong local self-government is a key pillar of Ukraine’s stability. In addition to our comprehensive commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and EU integration, empowering hromadas remains among our top priorities. Sweden will continue to support local recovery and development efforts, ensuring a long-term and consistent partnership toward our shared goals," - said Kristina Danielsson, Head of the Department for Development and Cooperation on Reforms at the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine.

The handover marks the third wave of support provided to hromadas by the Polaris Programme as part of its efforts to develop mobile services. To date, a total of 18 cars and the necessary equipment have been handed over to hromadas to help them implement projects aimed at improving access to services and strengthening resilience in the face of emergencies.

“It’s not just about providing transport to hromadas. It’s about ensuring people have access to public services – regardless of where they live or the circumstances they face. Mobile services today help hromadas stay close to veterans, older people, internally displaced persons and residents of affected areas, even in the most difficult conditions,” said Valeriia Koval, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

The cars provided are equipped with everything necessary for mobile teams to operate: computer equipment and communication tools for organising outreach services for citizens. They will help hromadas maintain service continuity even in the event of infrastructure damage, security restrictions or significant distances between settlements and administrative centres.

In addition to technical assistance, the Polaris Programme also provides hromadas with expert support and mentoring to help them roll out outreach services, develop inclusive solutions and improve access to services for local residents.