Minregion and Lithuanian Municipal Representatives Discussed Communities’ Experience of Responding to the Challenges of War

Ukrainian communities have unique experience of maintaining essential functions during a full-scale war. This is also important today for European partners working to strengthen the resilience of their municipalities.

A meeting of the Minregion team and Ukrainian members of parliament with a delegation of Lithuanian municipal leaders took place at the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine.

The meeting discussed Ukrainian experience in organising community operations under emergency conditions at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, including rapid coordination among authorities, the provision of critical services, backup power for communications facilities, the organisation of civilian evacuations and assistance to internally displaced persons.

Special attention was paid to the division of powers between central and local authorities, and to the role of communities and volunteer initiatives in responding to crises.

“At the beginning of Russia’s invasion, communities had to take unpopular, difficult but correct steps. This experience showed where additional tools were needed, and many solutions were found locally together with regional authorities and in coordination with state institutions.

Lithuania has stood with us since the first days. There are already 80 twinning partnerships between Ukrainian and Lithuanian communities, and the Declaration on Municipal Partnership opens the way to even more concrete assistance: from energy efficiency to support for internally displaced persons. We thank Lithuania for its sincerity and support for Ukraine,” Vitalii Bezghin said.

Ukraine remains ready to share practical experience of how communities operate during war, including solutions that help maintain critical services, protect the population and sustain local self-government.