Anastasia Gryshko, Executive Director of the Kherson Regional Charitable Fund “UNION,” took part in a discussion on Ukraine’s recovery, European integration, and the role of civil society, held in Brussels on October 20. The discussion focused on the needs of frontline communities, local residents’ participation in decision-making, and support for independent media.
How can communities that continue to live under shelling recover? How can people be involved in decisions that will shape their future? And how can international assistance be made accessible to those who need it most?
These questions were discussed at the event “Aligning Ukraine’s Recovery Efforts with Its EU Accession Agenda: What Role for Ukrainian Civil Society?”, organized by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) in partnership with the Chatham House Ukraine Forum.
The first session focused on the question: “How can civil society be involved in jointly designing and implementing recovery processes? What gaps exist in the current recovery system?” Orysia Lutsevych, Head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House, presented the key findings and recommendations of the Chatham House study “Why a ‘Whole-of-Society’ Model Is Essential for Ukraine’s Recovery.”
Anastasia Gryshko joined the second session, which focused on the regional dimensions of recovery and the experiences of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Eric Brynza, a journalist and editor at Inform.zp.ua, also took part.
Building on the Gdansk Common Message presented at the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2026), the discussion provided a valuable opportunity to align priorities ahead of URC2027 in Tallinn. Participants explored how the needs and priorities of communities on or near the frontline could shape the recovery process. Drawing on the perspectives of civil society and independent media, they discussed how a better understanding of local realities could guide international support, improve decision-making, and strengthen accountability.
During the meeting, Anastasia Gryshko spoke about the challenges facing frontline communities, the role of local initiatives, and the importance of ensuring that people’s voices are heard in decisions about Ukraine’s future. She also shared the Foundation’s achievements since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. She emphasized the need for greater support for local organizations and media, which play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of recovery efforts in communities and regions.
Representatives of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions also met with representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to discuss related issues and develop a shared understanding of the needs and challenges facing frontline regions.
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One of the key conclusions of the events was that communities and civil society organizations should be more than just recipients of assistance: they should be partners in setting recovery priorities. This requires long-term and flexible funding, more accessible procedures, and support tailored to the actual needs of frontline areas.
European integration must extend beyond national-level reforms. It should also be reflected at the local level through transparent decision-making, meaningful public participation, and genuine opportunities for residents to shape the future of their own communities.
We thank our partners, the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), for organizing the event and inviting us to participate.
