Rebuilding Ukraine: how towns in Kyiv region are being restored after Russian occupation

The special issue of the Urban Reconstruction and Development Program on Espreso reports.

The journalists talked to a resident of Bucha who was taken by surprise by the invasion.

Zinaida Shramovich and her husband, who were at home at the time of the invasion, saw personally how the Russian soldiers were killing the town's residents and destroying everything around them. During the bombardment, the couple hid in the corridor or in the entrance, because sometimes it seemed that the house was about to collapse.

Zinaida's house on Yablunska Street was indeed damaged by a direct hit, with several floors and more than 10 apartments burned out. Windows in the woman's apartment were blown out. The building is currently undergoing major repairs, with elevator equipment completely replaced, the facade of the building renovated, and all windows renewed. The resident says that the repairs were done with diligence.

“The work will last until October this year. I think so. At the moment, the work is 70-80% complete,” Roman Hryb, head of the repair department, told reporters.

More than 2,500 objects were destroyed or damaged by the occupying Russian forces in Bucha. In total, the losses of the town were estimated at more than UAH 5 billion. Currently, the State Agency for the Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine is rebuilding two facilities in the town. One of them is a building on Borys Hmyra Street that was almost completely destroyed by a shell hit. Here, the builders need to restore the entire section of the house. They say the work is progressing briskly.

“Yes, we literally did it in 10 days, we insulated 280 square meters, I think we are working quite fast,” one of the builders told Espreso.

In the neighboring town of Irpin, more than 1,000 buildings were damaged. Here, the Agency is currently restoring four facilities. One of the buildings is already fully completed. The work lasted eight months and cost UAH 61 million. Utility networks, elevators, and all windows were replaced, and the entrances were completely renovated.

About 100,000 people live in Bucha and Irpin. The bridge connecting Irpin to Kyiv was blown up by Ukrainian Defense Forces at the beginning of the full-scale war to stop the advance of Russian military vehicles. In early March 2022, local residents fled the occupation through the already destroyed crossing. They decided to leave the destroyed bridge as a memorial to the tragic events of the beginning of the full-scale war, and built a new one nearby.

In 2024, the Kyiv region plans to restore 106 buildings worth more than UAH 3 billion. In particular, 18 high-rise buildings, five schools, and one stadium will be overhauled. 

Espreso asked Ruslan Nychik, head of the restoration service in Kyiv region, for more details.

“We are currently working on almost 50 sites in the Kyiv region. This is the restoration of the towns of Borodyanka, Irpin, Bucha and the surrounding areas that were liberated... We plan to complete almost all the work by the end of this year,” he said.

“We are working fruitfully with local authorities and Kyiv Regional Military Administration. When the reconstruction process began, we conducted surveys together, and there was a procedure that allowed us to select and approve the facilities,” Nychik added.

How the objects are selected

According to Nychik, local governments select the facilities, submit them to the Kyiv Regional Military Administration for approval, and the latter, in turn, submits them to the commission under the Ministry of Reconstruction. The commission reviews the objects, approves the funding and passes it on to the Reconstruction Agency for implementation.

What are the challenges faced by people who apply for assistance in rebuilding their homes?

“The main problems are that after the Russian troops left, when the destroyed housing was being inspected, many apartments were not accessible at that time. Then, when people returned, they gave access. There were different cases. Some people refused to have their homes repaired and got on the waiting list for to receive state compensation," the official said.

According to him, there are not many such apartments, only 10-15.

Tender procedure and contractor selection

Before starting the reconstruction of a facility, local governments draw up project documentation and submit it to the Restoration Service.

“Then the Service checks whether everything is done in accordance with current legislation and building codes. Then we wait for funding for this facility, after which we announce a tender, select the cheapest offer, and sign a contract,” Nychik said.

He also noted that it is currently quite difficult to find a contractor due to mobilization.

“The military commissariats can come to a construction site and issue darft notices to people. But we help some contractors with reservations,” the official said.

He also emphasized that when choosing building materials, preference is given to Ukrainian producers.

Espreso asked the mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, about the reconstruction of the town.

How the reconstruction of destroyed houses in Irpin is going on

According to the mayor, various programs, including United24, are involved in the reconstruction of the facilities. Currently, houses and the central stadium are being rebuilt. The International Organization for Migration has already repaired one multi-storey building, repair work is underway on two ten-storey buildings, and a new multi-storey building will be built on the site of the one destroyed by a Russian air strike. 

At the same time, a comprehensive reconstruction of the private sector is underway with the help of Kyiv Regional Military Administration. Part of the funds for this are provided by the Irpin town council and partly by UNDP. The International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Caritas and others are also actively helping to restore the homes of Irpin residents.

“Today, people are actively receiving certificates for the purchase or construction of housing or for major repairs,” said Markushyn.

How many more facilities need to be rebuilt

“Unfortunately, a lot. Because Irpin is the most damaged town in Kyiv Oblast. Our town took the brunt of the damage. But we are doing everything we can within the budget we are given. Unfortunately, these funds are not enough to rebuild everything quickly and completely. We are looking for donors and partners, as we understand that the main funds of the state are spent on the Armed Forces, on our victory,” said Markushyn.

When asked to describe the problems faced by Irpin residents whose homes were destroyed by the Russian forces, the mayor noted that the main obstacle to starting the reconstruction is the disappearance of one of the co-owners.

The fact is that according to the current legislation, if one of the family members is in captivity or missing, the family cannot apply to Diia, repair the house or register the inheritance without death certificates. These houses are standing and cannot be repaired. With this in mind, the local authorities are asking the Ministry of Digital Transformation to legislate this issue and allow another co-owner to repair the housing.

According to Markushyn, people have the opportunity to inspect their homes with a drone, free of charge. Then you need to submit an application to Diia. After that, it will be known when the payment will be made,

“With sufficient funding, everything can be rebuilt in a year and a half,” the mayor emphasized.

He also noted that the certificates that owners of damaged housing receive do not include furniture, which is up to the person to buy.

Currently, the town authorities are planning to rebuild cultural centers, youth sports school, and the Center for Creativity, but the restoration work is significantly slowed down by the lack of labor due to mobilization, inflation, and power outages.