A meeting of the Working Group on Public Security, Recovery, and Social Cohesion was held in Kherson, dedicated to the security situation, the needs of residents, the work of humanitarian missions, the reintegration of veterans, and the development of social services.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Kherson City Military Administration, structural units, public and charitable organizations, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the Training and Methodology Center, and the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine. Some participants joined online. The meeting continued the Working Group's previous work, during which participants had already discussed the results of the risk study of the Kherson territorial community.
At the meeting, the participants were presented with analytical materials prepared by the Union Foundation within the framework of the Impulse Project, implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the East Europe Foundation with funding from Norway and Sweden.
The risk analysis was based on focus groups with community residents, expert assessment, and analysis of contextual data. The study is based on the experiences of people living in a community under constant danger.
Among the key risks for the Kherson community, the study identified drone danger, shelling, the threat of loss of life and housing, deterioration of the population’s mental health, a crisis of trust, information risks, unpreparedness for the return of veterans, social conflicts between different groups of the population, as well as post-war risks associated with recovery, reconstruction, and ecology.
During the meeting, these conclusions were confirmed with specific examples from the community's life. Representatives of local authorities spoke about daily Russian shelling, drone attacks, mining, the danger of moving around the city, and targeted attacks by the Russian military on transport. The safety of humanitarian missions that deliver food, water, ready meals, and other assistance to residents in dangerous areas was discussed separately.
Special attention was paid to the logistics situation. According to the Working Group participants, the enemy is trying to block movement within the city, along access roads, and in coastal areas, and areas where it is difficult to ensure the safe movement of people and transport remain under the greatest pressure. In this context, participants discussed the need for new security protocols, drone-detection tools, armored vehicles for humanitarian missions, first-aid kits, home-based medical training, and other measures to reduce risks to people.
A separate practical issue was supporting the civilian population amid constant attacks. Participants discussed the need for fire extinguishers and emergency response kits for the private sector, as well as quarterly checks, especially on the eve of the summer period, when the risk of fires from burning dry vegetation increases. Such solutions are not a substitute for systemic security, but can help people act in the first minutes after a hit or fire. In this regard, the Union Foundation will work in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council Ukraine, within the Kherson Consortium for Territorial Resource Allocation (ABA), which DRC implements together with ACTED and Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP), with the support of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF).
An important part of the meeting was the presentation of the areas of the new phase of work supported by UNDP in the community. The participants spoke not only about humanitarian needs, but also about the long-term recovery of the community - social and administrative services, health care, veterans' direction, support for veterans' families, youth involvement and development of local dialogue.
Some of the planned activities are directly based on the risk analysis results. In particular, the new phase provides for training specialists in inclusive solutions and barrier-free recovery, a course on effective work with veterans, military personnel, and their families, and training in digital transparency tools to support sustainable and accountable recovery.
A special emphasis was placed on working with veterans and their families. The risk study showed that the community should now prepare for the complex process of military reintegration. This includes not only services, but also communication, conflict prevention, family support, a trauma-informed approach, and the readiness of local institutions to work with different war experiences.
Representatives of the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine presented specific areas of future work in the Kherson community. In particular, strategic sessions were announced on veteran policy and the formation of a more systematic approach to working with veterans and their family members. UNDP representatives paid special attention to the healthcare sector. Based on preliminary consultations with medical institutions and specialized departments, the need for additional training for medical workers, strengthening the capacity of the healthcare system, and supporting medical and sanitary services was identified. UNDP representatives emphasized that their work in the community is aimed not only at responding to current challenges but also at long-term recovery through the development of social services, support for veterans' policies, strengthening local institutions, and building the community's capacity to address the consequences of the war.
The working groups remain an important platform for dialogue between the authorities, civil society organizations, international partners, and residents. The first interim results of the further steps in the joint work to strengthen community security identified at this meeting will be presented at the next meeting.
