Kyiv, 10 February 2026 — The Centre for Strategic Communications (formerly the Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security under the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and funding from the Government of Japan, has summarised the results of a two-and-a-half-year nationwide training programme on strategic communications and countering disinformation for public sector communicators, and presented the practical handbook “Communications in the Work of State and Local Government Bodies: Modern Practices”.

Overall, the training programme “Countering Disinformation and Strategic Communications” covered 24 regions of Ukraine and engaged more than 400 communication professionals from state authorities, local government bodies and other institutions. Training sessions were held both in Kyiv and in the regions. As part of the programme, participants not only enhanced their professional skills but also shared practical experience they have gained, as well as the challenges and threats they face in their day-to-day work – from crisis situations and disinformation attacks, to communicating with communities in wartime conditions.

Based on this multi-year experience, and taking into account regional specificities and vulnerabilities, the team of the Centre for Strategic Communications developed a unique database of regional challenges, which formed the basis of the practical handbook. The publication systematises the accumulated knowledge and makes it accessible to a wider circle of professionals, including communicators who did not have the opportunity to take part in the training.

Anastasiia Korobai, Team Leader for Effective Multilevel Governance Projects at UNDP in Ukraine, emphasised the significance of the long-term work behind the programme: 

“This handbook that we are presenting today is the result of extensive work that covered all regions of Ukraine, involved more than 400 communication professionals, and is based on a unique database of regional vulnerabilities and practical cases,” Korobai said. “It was created as a tool for the daily work of communication teams within public authorities. This training programme has demonstrated how important it is to invest in the communication capacities of public institutions at all levels – especially in the context of war and unprecedented information challenges.”

The handbook consists of five sections and covers the full cycle of developing communication campaigns – from audience analysis and planning, to implementation and evaluation of effectiveness – and also includes a separate section dedicated to crisis communications. It is designed as a practical tool for the everyday work of communication teams of state authorities and local government bodies, serving as a handbook for them.

The author of the handbook, Oleksandr Horokhovskyi, analyst at the Centre for Strategic Communications, explained how its practical content was developed: 

“The practical cases on which the handbook is based were formed using requests from the audience and our experience in implementing projects,” Horokhovskyi said. “In previous publications, there were requests for practices and exercises to better reflect the needs of regions and communities. Therefore, in this edition, the cases address exactly the issues that communicators encounter in their daily work. Of course, it is impossible to cover all topics – each region has dozens of them – but we focused on those that are most relevant for the majority. They became a kind of templates and matrices on which the handbook is built.”

Deputy Head of the Centre for Strategic Communications Mykola Balaban highlighted the importance of the experience gained for future projects: 

“We’re trying to reflect on the experience gained and strengthen our materials and skills so that we can enter future projects stronger,” Balaban said. “Strengthening the communication capacities of the regions is one of the key tasks of the state. We need to engage with people on the ground and allow them to share their experience. This direction is very promising.”

The training sessions also helped bring participants together into a professional network for further cooperation.

Hanna Krasnostup, Director of the Department of Strategic Communications and Promotion of Ukrainian Culture at the Ministry of Culture, noted: 

“Over these years, we have built a real network,” Krasnostup said. “The training produced new skills, an expert community, and professional connections. Together, we’re implementing the state’s strategic communications and information security policy.”

The handbook is available at the following link.

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications and Advocacy, yuliia.samus@undp.org