For two years now, the Working Group on Public Safety and Recovery has been operating in six communities of the Kherson region: Stanislav, Bilozerka, Chornobaiivka, Novovorontsovka, Vysokopillia, and Kochubeiivka. In the summer of 2023, these groups were established to unify the efforts of military administrations, village and settlement councils, the State Emergency Service, the police, public organizations, charitable foundations, educational institutions, medical professionals, and other institutions aimed at enhancing public security and social cohesion in communities.
Over the course of 2 years, 54 meetings were held in the communities, with approximately 730 participants taking part, including 140 unique individuals. There is a positive trend in the increase in the number of people participating in the working groups, despite the worsening security situation and other challenges.
A constant analysis of problems, needs, and ideas enables the Foundation, as the coordinator of the Network of the Working Group on Public Safety and Recovery, to respond quickly and seek new opportunities: both by directly communicating needs to donors and stakeholders, and by attracting the necessary resources. Working group meetings have become a platform for open dialogue and joint decision-making, which fosters trust among donors and enables the implementation of initiatives proposed by communities.
Over the two years of the Working Group on Public Safety and Recovery activities, more than 20 mini-initiatives have been implemented in six communities, including:
- installation of video surveillance systems;
- arrangement of offices for community police officers;
- arrangement of community hubs;
- installation of fire hydrants;
- meeting the needs of local fire brigades;
- transfer of fire-fighting stands to community social institutions;
- transfer of quadcopters to the State Emergency Service and the police;
- installation of more than two hundred new road signs and traffic limiters on roads;
- installation of notification systems;
- arrangement of safety classes;
- a sports field was equipped.
Grant projects were also implemented by organizations in cooperation with the State Emergency Service and the Educational and Methodological Center for Civil Protection and Life Safety, aimed at safety and inclusion.
Within the framework of the Working Groups' activities, the initiatives of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in the Kherson region were also supported. Thus, in the Bilozerka and Chornobaiivka communities, the “Safe Road” initiative was launched, aimed at strengthening traffic safety in communities that are a key transport artery connecting the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. Within the framework of the project, the police have already received modern equipment: Dräger Alcotest 6820 breathalyzers with printers, portable charging stations, and tablets for recording offenses.
One of the areas of activity of the Working Groups is also support for the State Emergency Service in the Kherson region. This includes the purchase of new equipment and the transfer of fuel and chainsaws.
An equally important element of the Working Group on Public Safety and Recovery is the soft component. Working group participants had the opportunity to participate in training sessions and seminars on project writing, communication, and engagement, including sessions focused on veterans, establishing cooperation between the public and the police, and other relevant topics. Dozens of community representatives attended conferences to exchange experiences and establish partnerships.
Over the past two years, our Foundation has developed recommendations for authorities on public communication in frontline communities and a practical guide with recommendations on self-defense against Russian drone attacks. We also studied the migration sentiments of residents from the Kherson region who are abroad.
During the last meeting of the Working Group on Public Safety and Recovery, held in October of this year, participants discussed the main challenges and identified priority areas of work for 2026. Despite the varying scales of destruction and the security situation, all communities are united by one thing: a focus on security, the restoration of critical infrastructure, and strengthening the resilience of the population. Social cohesion and support for vulnerable groups have also become among the main areas in the plans: the creation of veteran spaces and rehabilitation centers, the creation of crisis centers for IDPs and victims of violence, and the formation of a housing base for IDPs and specialists who will be involved in the reconstruction of communities. Among the essential tasks is increasing community capacity through education, training, and involving youth and veterans in community development initiatives.
The communities emphasized the need to attract donors, international partners, and expert support to implement the planned initiatives.
In 2026, the working groups will continue to coordinate between local authorities, security services, civil society, and international organizations to jointly build safe, resilient, and cohesive communities in the Kherson region.
As a reminder, the WGPSR in the communities was created in the summer of 2023 by orders of the heads of the military administrations within the framework of the initiative "Kherson region: public safety and recovery in conditions of change", implemented by the "Union" Foundation with the assistance of UNDP Ukraine, with the financial support of the Government of Denmark.
