Side by Side reconstruction program has rebuilt over 400 buildings in war-blighted Kherson region

As part of the Side by Side reconstruction project in the southern Kherson region, more than 400 buildings have been restored in communities affected by Russian aggression.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Oleksii Kuleba said this in an interview with Ukrinform, Rubryka reports.

What is the problem?

The Kherson region was recognized as one of the most war-affected regions. After the liberation of Kherson and part of the region at the right bank of the Dnipro River, populated areas have suffered from shelling daily.

Moreover, on the night of June 6, Russian invaders blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant and dam. The overflow of water from the Kakhovka Reservoir flooded the vast part of the region, destroying housing. Despite this, hundreds of residents of the Kherson region want to return to their homes.

"Despite Russian terror, occupation, destruction, and shelling, people are returning home. They want to live on their land, in their country, teach and raise children here," Oleksii Kuleba said earlier.

What is the solution?

"The Side by Side program is a pilot initiative that fully meets the request of people's involvement in helping the country," the official explained. "Under this project, 15 regions sent their workers and their people to restore the communities of the Kherson region. They have already restored more than 400 buildings." 

How does it work?

Kuleba assured that the principles of patronage and interregional relations work very clearly.

"If you visit those communities, those homes, those people who came from [western] Rivne region, from Ivano-Frankivsk region, from Ternopil region and restore their housing, you will see what the unity of the people is like in action," Kuleba said. "It causes incredible emotions. When we talk about the need to act not with slogans but with real deeds, it is precisely what we mean." 

At the same time, Kuleba reported that the state has an idea of scaling up the project so that it is not only related to the repair of housing but also extends to the social, cultural, and sports fields.

The Side by Side project was launched at the beginning of July, in which capable Ukrainian communities from different regions were willing to help restore 26 war-battered settlements of the Kherson region.

The official also reported that within the initiative, repair crews from different parts of the country, mostly volunteers, are involved in reconstructing the Kherson region.

In particular:

• Vinnytsia is restoring the village of Kalinivske,
• Volyn region took it upon itself to restore the village of Blahodativka,
• Dnipropetrovsk region – the villages of Olhyne, Starolissia, Bobrovyi Kut,
• Zhytomyr region – the village of Trifonivka,
• Zakarpattia region – the villages of Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka,
• Ivano-Frankivsk region – the village of Davidiv Brid,
• Kirovohrad region – the village of Mala Oleksandrivka,
• Lviv region – the villages of Nova Zoria, Tavriiske, and the town of Bila Krynytsia,
• Odesa – the villages of Kiselivka, Blahodatne, and Novodmytrivka,
• Poltava region – the village of Chkalove and Pravdyne,
• Rivne region – the villages of Zahradivka, Orlove and Kochubeivka,
• Ternopil region – Arkhanhelske settlement,
• Khmelnytskyi region – Vysokopillia village,
• Cherkasy region – the villages of Novopetrivka and Ivanivka,
• Chernivtsi – the village of Novomykolaivka.

As Rubryka reported, the consequences of the Russians' destroying the Kakhovka plant will haunt the region's residents for a long time to come. Rubryka gathered case studies of other countries that suffered from natural disasters and floods to find out what experience can be helpful in Ukraine.

Read more in our article: From reconstruction to helping farmers: foreign experiences used to alleviate flooding consequences in Kherson region.