Ukraine, 10 February 2026 – Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported Ukraine in clearing one million tonnes of debris, marking a major milestone in the country’s recovery efforts.

According to the fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) conducted by the World Bank Group, the Government of Ukraine, the European Commission, and the United Nations, with support from other partners, direct damage to Ukraine’s buildings and infrastructure reached US$176 billion by the end of 2024.

Debris has become one of the most immediate barriers to reconstruction and the return of residents. 

In response, UNDP has supported early recovery efforts in 26 war-affected communities of Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. 

As of the start of 2026, rubble equivalent in weight to three Empire State Buildings has been safely removed and sorted – restoring safe access to over 200 public locations, such as streets and informal dumpsites, and enabling reconstruction work at more than 1,600 heavily damaged sites, including homes, schools, hospitals, and industrial facilities.

The implementation of this work prioritized community engagement, with more than 400 locally hired construction and demolition workers involved across the country.

The clearing operations followed strict protocols for the early identification and safe handling of hazardous waste, including asbestos-containing materials, alongside systematic sorting to enable recycling. This approach allowed UNDP to supply local recycling facilities with verified, reusable materials and enabled communities to transform rubble into resources for reconstruction. These materials are already being used across Ukraine for landfill cell covering and isolation layers, as well as for road and pathway surfacing.

Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, emphasised the strategic importance of debris management support for Ukraine’s communities.

“As communities across Ukraine continue to face widespread destruction, managing millions of tonnes of debris places an immense burden on local authorities,” Kuleba said. “UNDP helps communities address urgent debris management needs while gradually strengthening their capacities for safer handling, reuse, and recycling of materials — all of which are essential for Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term resilience.”

Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting community recovery efforts, particularly through debris management.

“In 2026, UNDP will build on these achievements by working alongside the Government of Ukraine to help establish a coherent, coordinated, and sustainable national debris management system,” Lootsma said. “Our focus will be on strengthening the legal framework for debris management, promoting debris recycling and reuse, ensuring the detection, safe handling, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials, and building capacities of local and regional authorities.”

Read and watch the testimonies of former residents of the demolished buildings: 

The story of a family from Kharkiv who lost everything to a missile strike but retained their faith in life.

“My house saved us”: the story of a former teacher from Dmytrivka, Kyiv region.

Removing debris, restoring safety: first step in education recovery: Shyroke community of Mykolaiv region

Rebuilding hope: Ukrainian couple return to community after war destroys home

Paving the way for reconstruction of Novoselivka in Chernihiv region 

Background:

UNDP’s debris management activities in Ukraine began in 2022 as an emergency response in Kyiv Oblast communities that had endured occupation. By 2025, this effort had evolved into a systematic programme supporting 26 communities across eight oblasts, making it one of the largest UNDP debris management operations globally.

The UNDP debris management initiative was made possible through the support of international partners — the governments of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Sweden, the European Union through its Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), and the Ukraine Community Recovery Fund (UCRF) — and through close cooperation with local authorities, regional state administrations, and the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.

Media enquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org