A regular meeting of the working group of community engagement was held in the Velykooleksandrivska community, attended by representatives of local authorities, municipal institutions, the police, the veterans’ community, civil society, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.
During the meeting, participants discussed changes in the security situation, the community’s immediate needs, the results of a strategic session on veterans’ policy, and possible areas of work in 2027.
The security situation in the community is gradually deteriorating. Community representatives noted that FPV drones are increasingly being spotted near populated areas, while some villages have been experiencing mobile connectivity problems for an extended period due to infrastructure damage. Operators are not always able to restore equipment quickly because of security concerns.
For this reason, backup communication equipment was identified as a priority need. This is particularly important for municipal service workers who operate in remote settlements and travel to water supply facilities and other critical infrastructure sites.
The possibility of developing a local drone threat alert system was also discussed. The community is examining the experience of other areas where information about FPV drone movements is promptly communicated to residents through local alert systems and information channels. To implement such a solution, the community needs to determine the technical model, assign responsibility for monitoring, and establish procedures for alerting the population.
During the meeting, the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation “Union” handed over two “Dzyga” drone detectors to the Velykooleksandrivska community, made possible by support from partners at the Razom for Ukraine Foundation. One of the detectors is intended to strengthen security near facilities where large numbers of people gather daily.
The development of a video surveillance system also remains a separate priority for the community. Some cameras have already been installed, and the community plans to expand the system further. Members of the working group considered video surveillance one of the tools for improving public safety and monitoring conditions in the busiest areas.
Child safety was another important topic. After a prolonged break, some educational institutions are gradually returning to blended learning, while sports facilities and extracurricular institutions have resumed operations. As a result, more children are moving around the community, including in the evening.
Possible solutions discussed included the use of reflective elements, improved road safety near educational institutions, and the installation of additional road signs and speed-reduction measures. The Obiednannia Foundation also offered to provide the community with available reflective safety tags and suggested exploring the possibility of running a road safety awareness campaign jointly with the police.
The need for mobile shelters also remains pressing. The community is already purchasing two such shelters independently. Still, many more are needed, particularly along routes used by children and near educational institutions returning to in-person or blended learning.
The list of needs also includes first-aid kits, personal protective equipment for certain services, and training in first aid and in responding to drone attacks. Community representatives emphasized that such training is necessary not only for professionals but also for residents, as the drone threat—which was once perceived as distant—now directly affects the community.
Alongside security concerns, participants discussed ideas for strengthening community cohesion. These included equipping public spaces with benches, tables, and other places to rest, as well as creating spaces with solar panels where people could charge their phones and use Wi-Fi during power outages.
A separate part of the meeting focused on veterans’ policy. Participants revisited the results of the strategic session held in the summer jointly for the Velykooleksandrivska and Kochubeivska communities.
During the strategic session, the community assessed its readiness to support the reintegration of veterans and female veterans, laid the foundation for a local action plan, and discussed a coordination model that involves various institutions. Veterans’ policy extends beyond the work of specialists supporting veterans and female veterans: it also involves healthcare, education, social protection, administrative services, the Pension Fund, and other services.
Three specialists supporting veterans, including female veterans, are already working in the Velykooleksandrivska community, and another is expected to be brought on board. The community also needs additional training for these specialists and further development of its veterans’ space, which is already operational.
Psychological support and rehabilitation remain among the unresolved challenges. The community lacks a sufficient number of specialized psychologists, while demand for this kind of assistance is growing among veterans, female veterans, and their families, as well as children and other community residents.
UNDP representatives also provided information about a current grant competition in the field of veterans’ policy and a study visit to Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions. Representatives of the Velykooleksandrivska community will have the opportunity to learn about different models for operating veterans’ spaces, organizing services, and supporting veterans, female veterans, and their family members.
The working group meeting helped clarify the needs of the Velykooleksandrivska community and identify areas where further partner support could be sought. The community is already implementing some solutions independently, while others require additional resources and technical preparation.
This grant initiative is being implemented by the Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation Union within the framework of EU4Recovery—a flagship partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, co-financed by the Government of Sweden.
