Igor Terekhov: Frontline cities need a separate funding program

Participants focused on existing support programs, criteria for their implementation, challenges in the field of housing provision, as well as opportunities for improving coordination and sustainable development.

As part of the forum, Ihor Terekhov spoke at a panel discussion entitled “Communities that are taking action and already creating housing,” where he shared Kharkiv's experience in resolving housing issues for affected citizens. In addition, the mayor outlined the main challenges faced by frontline communities, including lack of funding, the need to update the legislative framework, and a comprehensive approach to creating housing infrastructure, including the construction of schools, kindergartens, administrative service centers, and support centers.

"There is a big difference between cities near the front line and those located deep in the rear. Cities such as Kharkiv need a separate program—financial, subsidy, business preservation, and population return. This is critically important not only for Kharkiv, but also for Sumy, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia—all those on the front lines of the fight against the Russian aggressor. Today, housing is needed both for Kharkiv residents who have lost their homes and for displaced persons who have already become part of the city. We have experience, we have ready-made projects, but without the support of the government and international partners, we will not be able to implement large-scale construction," the mayor emphasized.

According to him, despite the difficult conditions, Kharkiv continues to live and work. Currently, 1.3 million people live in the city, of whom more than 200,000 are internally displaced persons.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine in conjunction with the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with the support of the Council of Europe.