Themes by tag: reconstruction

The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, a Ukrainian charitable organization, has outfitted two schools in Kyiv Oblast with hybrid solar power systems equipped with energy storage. These installations are a significant step toward ensuring energy resilience in regions still recovering from the scars of occupation.  

Bobryk Gymnasium: Rebuilding after the devastation. Bobryk Gymnasium, part of the Velyka Dymerka Village Council, endured occupation beginning March 8, 2022, lasting until the month’s end. Russian forces used the school as a base, leaving it heavily damaged and stripped of all equipment, including sports supplies. By the time the village was liberated, the gymnasium and the neighboring preschool had sustained 45% structural damage.  

Now, the school is taking a step toward energy independence. Specialists have installed 93 photovoltaic panels on its roof, paired with an inverter and batteries offering 29.7 kWh of storage capacity. This hybrid solar power system can keep the school running for up to four hours during blackouts. Additionally, the system is projected to save the school approximately €5,925 annually—a much-needed financial reprieve in challenging times.  

Nemishaieve Lyceum No. 2: A shelter turned stronghold. During the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Nemishaieve Lyceum №2 became a refuge for residents unable to evacuate. Villagers sought safety in the school’s basement during rocket attacks, while teachers and staff prepared meals for those in need. The 37-day occupation left a trail of destruction—shattered windows, damaged doors, a compromised roof, and multiple missile strikes on the school grounds, some of which resulted in devastating losses.  

Today, the lyceum is fortified with a 10 kW hybrid solar station featuring 30 solar panels, an inverter, and a 26 kWh energy storage system. This setup can power the bomb shelter and the school’s first floor for up to four hours during outages, ensuring safety and functionality. The system is expected to save the school roughly €1,985 per year.  

For reference: The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is leading initiatives like “100 Solar Schools” and “50 Solar Hospitals,” which aim to equip educational and healthcare facilities affected by Russian aggression with renewable energy solutions. These efforts not only restore critical infrastructure but also pave the way for a more sustainable future.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On January 16, a newly restored outpatient clinic will officially open in the village of Zdvyzhivka, located in the Bucha district. The facility, which was devastated during the 2022 occupation of the Kyiv region, has been fully renovated and upgraded after being looted and severely damaged by russian forces.

The clinic now boasts modern equipment and expanded diagnostic services, including ultrasound, laboratory testing, and cardiac evaluations for patients with complex needs. It is set to provide primary healthcare to approximately 2,000 residents of Zdvyzhivka, Babyntsi, and neighboring villages.

The opening ceremony will be attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, regional and local governments, as well as international partners who supported the reconstruction efforts.

• doctors
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Yuliia Dudysheva, a displaced resident from Crimea, has spent the past year and a half transforming the lives of fellow internally displaced persons by repairing and restoring homes. Before russia’s full-scale invasion, Yuliia lived and worked in the Chernihiv region, where she specialized in advertising and occasionally helped friends with home repairs. But after the region’s liberation in spring 2022, she decided to leave her job and embark on a new path.

In June 2023, Yuliia launched her efforts to renovate and decorate homes for those displaced by the war. Her first project was helping friends who allowed her to redecorate their dwelling. Word spread, and soon she met another family in need of assistance. Over the next 18 months, Yuliia established the initiative Comfort for IDPs, completing repairs and restorations on eight homes for families forced to flee due to the invasion. Her most recent project, in Ternopil, involved preparing a house for a family from Enerhodar, a city in the occupied Zaporizhia region.

Yuliia actively shares her renovation journey on social media, where her followers rally behind her mission. Many support the Comfort for IDPs project by contributing funds and materials for her work. Currently based in the Chernihiv region, Yuliia is planning her next renovation for displaced families.

Those wishing to connect with Yuliia Dudysheva can schedule a meeting with her, either online or in person.

• casualties
• culture
• reconstruction
• women
• Chernihiv

In the nearly 1,000 days since russia launched its all-out invasion, 1,941 medical facilities across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed, according to official reports. This includes 1,714 facilities that sustained damage and 227 that were completely demolished. Hospitals in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions have borne the brunt of the destruction.  

Obtaining a complete assessment of damage in territories still under russian occupation remains impossible. However, the toll on healthcare extends beyond facilities. Since the start of the war, russia has damaged 235 ambulances, destroyed 263, and seized 125.  

Despite the challenges, the Ukrainian government has made the restoration of medical infrastructure a priority. The Ministry of Healthcare, in collaboration with its partners, has overseen the repair and reconstruction of 904 facilities. These include hospitals and clinics in de-occupied areas, as well as those that sustained minor damage, such as broken windows or damaged roofs.  

The largest recovery efforts have taken place in Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions, ensuring that access to quality healthcare remains available for Ukrainians even amidst the ongoing invasion.  

• doctors
• reconstruction
• russian crimes

Maryna Lytovchenko, a 33-year-old Paralympic table tennis champion from Kharkiv, has proven her fortitude both on and off the court. A bronze medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and a gold medalist in Tokyo, she has faced challenges far beyond the sports arena.

In the spring of 2022, russian forces shelled Maryna’s alma mater, the H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, leaving parts of it heavily damaged. Determined to help, Maryna took the extraordinary step of auctioning off her gold medal—earned in a match against a russian competitor—to raise funds for the university’s restoration.

She also organized several charity table tennis tournaments in the Czech Republic with colleagues from her sociology department. By February 2023, the fundraising campaign had collected 500,000 UAH, thanks to support from the sports community and compassionate donors. The funds were dedicated to rebuilding the university’s damaged facilities.

Maryna’s determination extends to her academic and athletic pursuits. In 2024, she added a silver medal from the Paris Paralympic Games to her accolades. As a graduate student, she is working on practical recommendations for coaches on training Paralympic athletes while continuing to compete in local tournaments.

She is also an alumna of The Leader (Liderka) school, a program by the NGO Fight For Right that promotes political participation among women with disabilities in Ukraine.

Journalists interested in speaking with Maryna can arrange interviews with her in Kyiv.

• reconstruction
• women
• Kyiv

Larysa Bortovyk, a native of Kherson, found out about russia’s full-scale offensive while she was in Mexico. Immediately, she began searching for ways to return home. Despite the russian occupation of her city, Larysa made it back to Ukraine. In May 2022, she traveled to the russian-held city, helping friends and others who wanted to escape to Ukrainian-controlled areas.

After relocating to the Kyiv region, she joined the volunteer efforts there, clearing the rubble of buildings destroyed by the war. Driven by a desire to bring similar recovery efforts to her hometown, Larysa returned to Kherson just days after its liberation on November 11, 2022. She took on the role of regional coordinator for the Dobrobat volunteer movement, leading a team in clearing debris and rebuilding homes. In addition, she spearheaded projects aimed at restoring private residences and creating shelters in medical facilities. Fellow volunteers affectionately call Larysa “mom,”  recognizing her commitment and the care she extends to others.

Given the ongoing security risks in the Kherson region, her volunteer team is now focused on setting up shelters.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Larysa in Kherson or Kyiv, as well as remotely.

Background: Kherson fell under russian occupation at the start of the full-scale invasion on March 1, 2022. The city was liberated by Ukrainian forces on November 11, 2022, though russian forces continue to shell the area regularly.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• women
• Kherson

Irpin, a city in Kyiv Oblast, has introduced a free demolition program for owners of private homes destroyed during the war. Launched by the Irpin City Council, the initiative is being executed by local utility services, which have already cleared dozens of plots for residents. This effort is designed to help homeowners begin reconstruction more quickly, while also reducing costs related to the initial cleanup.

The Irpin Housing and Utilities Department is using heavy machinery provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, including excavators, loaders, and crushers, to carry out the demolitions.

Journalists, with prior arrangement, are welcome to report on the demolition efforts underway in Irpin.

Background: During russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 1,130 private homes in Irpin were damaged, and 1,483 were completely destroyed.

• casualties
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Heorhii and Olha Chervienkov established a cannery in Posad-Pokrovske, Kherson region, nine years ago. Prior to russia’s full-scale invasion, the facility was producing over 100 tons of goods monthly. But in 2022, as russian forces occupied the Kherson region and fierce fighting turned the area into a frontline, the factory and much of the village were decimated.

The Chervienkovs discovered the extent of the damage only after the area was liberated and they returned home. Undeterred, the couple immediately began rebuilding, and just six months after the de-occupation, they succeeded in getting their first production line back up and running. Initially, operations relied entirely on generators, and labor shortages posed a serious challenge, as many of their former employees had either joined the military or left the community.

Today, Heorhii and Olha Chervienkov are working to restore the plant to its pre-war capacity. They’ve taken innovative steps to overcome staffing gaps, including training local women to take on traditionally male gender roles in the production process.

For reference: November 11, 2024, will mark two years since Ukraine retook the city of Kherson from occupying russian forces.

• casualties
• reconstruction
• Kherson

To speed up the restoration of buildings destroyed by russian forces, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi has called on Ukrainian and international businesses to adopt one of these damaged buildings. In less than a day, two Ukrainian companies and one international organization have already joined the “Adopt a House” campaign.

On September 4, a massive missile attack on Lviv killed 7 people. 188 buildings were damaged by russia, 20 are in critical condition. These include historical monuments, residential buildings and schools.

The “Adopt a House” campaign is ongoing, and the Lviv City Council continues to call on local and international businesses, as well as international charitable organizations, to help restore the buildings destroyed by the enemy. What is important: the city does not announce a fundraising campaign, but invites participants to take responsibility for a building and restore it.

• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• Lviv

On September 5, a modular house will be unveiled in the Kyiv region, providing a new home for a big family from Kherson who fled the occupation. Dobrobat, a volunteer construction battalion, invites journalists to witness the near-completion of this significant project.

Ms. Olha, a 70-year-old teacher, escaped the war-torn region with her five adopted children. Dobrobat volunteers took on the task of building a new home for them. The family, who lost everything in the conflict, is now preparing to move into the half-installed modular house.

The event will feature both the volunteers and the family, offering a chance to hear their stories and see the completed work. Olha’s husband is seriously ill, and with her brother’s help, she managed to secure land in the Kyiv region where this new chapter begins.

• casualties
• occupation
• reconstruction
• volunteers
• Kyiv