The European Association for Local Democracy has opened an office in Kharkiv

The event included a conference attended by representatives of partner organisations and LDA regional offices from other regions of Ukraine. They discussed the main areas of future cooperation and presented ALDA's activities in the context of full-scale war.

The mayor of Kharkiv emphasised the symbolic significance of opening a democratic institution in a city that faces hostile aggression on a daily basis.

‘This is a very important event for Kharkiv, for our community and for the entire region. Today, our boys and girls are defending democratic values on the front lines — they are literally fighting for Ukraine's right to be free, European and democratic. When we opened this office, the air raid siren sounded again — and this is the best evidence of the conditions in which Ukraine lives today. But despite everything, we continue to build a democratic society. I really want this office to be not just a symbol, but a platform for real help to communities — both ours and those representing different regions here. This is the development of local self-government, real support for people, and progress towards the European Union,’ said Ihor Terekhov.