The Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation “Union” presented an analytical report titled “Kherson Region: The Road to Restoration,” based on 16 interviews with representatives from various fields, as well as a survey of viewers of the third season of “Conversations about Restoration.”
The third season of “Conversations about Restoration” depicts the Kherson region at a time when, for a significant part of the region, full-scale reconstruction remains limited by the war, and the primary task is to preserve lives and maintain the ability of communities to function. A defining change compared to previous seasons is the intensification of the survival mode.
Key findings:
- 76.5% of respondents describe the current situation as a struggle for survival. Only 6% see a slow recovery.
- The existence of a large-scale reconstruction project does not yet guarantee a quick return to normal life. Transportation, healthcare, education, jobs, and specialists are needed to support the restored systems.
- Danger is changing the very concept of accessibility. A service or assistance may exist, but people are not always able to reach it safely, and a team may not be able to travel to the community.
- The prolonged departure of the population deprives communities of professional knowledge, managerial experience, local connections, and the ability to organize collective action.
- 90.4% of respondents believe that local businesses are mostly surviving, barely staying afloat, or are virtually nonexistent.
- Despite this, 55.4% remain optimistic about the region’s future recovery.
Future recovery depends on the decisions being made right now. The sequence of actions must reflect real-world conditions: survival, the preservation of people and vital systems, and then the expansion of development opportunities. If the region preserves its human, institutional, economic, informational, and cultural capacity, once security restrictions are eased, the Kherson Region will have the people, the resources, and the purpose to rebuild.
The report includes an analysis of security, labor shortages, the economy, humanitarian aid, trust, the work of the civil society sector, and the resources that are already helping the Kherson region maintain its resilience.
Download the report
The report was prepared by the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation “Union” with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its content does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EED. The information and views expressed in this material are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
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