The forum "Ukrainian Luhansk Region: Creating the Future Now", dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, was held in Kyiv.
The discussion of the state principles of local policy and support for relocated businesses was joined by Vitaliy Bezgin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine, Ulyana Tokareva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Maryna Khlystun, Executive Director of the Investment Attraction and Support Office, Oleksiy Orlovsky, Director of the Democracy and Good Governance Program of the International Renaissance Foundation, and Astrid Kohl, Director of the U-LEAD with Europe Program.
Opening the discussion, Oleksiy Kharchenko, head of the Luhansk OVA, emphasized the problems that the authorities of the relocated communities face every day.
"The communities of Luhansk region are "under fire" every day, both from the public and from the ministries regarding the expediency of preserving state institutions, but neither supporting IDPs nor preserving the region's potential for restoring the region after de-occupation is possible without local authorities," he noted, adding that the main task of the authorities at this stage is to make the integration of Luhansk residents into host communities comfortable, while simultaneously preserving their local identity.
"Preserving relocated identities is an extremely important task for the authorities," Ulyana Tokareva supported him and noted that the Luhansk Region Autonomous Region was among the first to approve the Regional Target Program for Preservation of National Identity, the measures of which have been financially confirmed. In addition, among 30 civil society development projects, a project from the Luhansk region received support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Ulyana Tokareva shared the ministry's plans to create a "housing bank" for young people returning from deportation and occupation and emphasized: "It is impossible to save young people from TOT without people who know the region."
Vitaliy Bezgin also emphasized the importance of preserving the human, institutional, and economic potential of the region, even when it is almost completely occupied.
He noted that the authorities should form a single state model of working with temporarily occupied territories based on relevant NSDC decisions.
"The policy regarding IDPs must finally become systemic, these are our fellow citizens! Frankly, housing needs are growing every day, as is the number of people forced to leave their homes due to Russian aggression. Therefore, the search for resources is a continuous process at all levels of government," Vitaliy Bezgin assured those present.
He noted that IDP Councils and other relevant organizations should be full participants in the formation of a new policy: "Deoccupation will return the territory. But the return of life depends on how we preserve and prepare people and communities today," the Minister said.
