LocationsOkhtyrka: A community’s path from destruction to renewal
March 3, 2026
Okhtyrka is a city of more than 40,000 people on the border of Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. It is one of those places where the first weeks of the full-scale invasion gouged deep wounds. The city withstood assault and has been granted the status of a “Hero City,” but it suffered damage in almost every one of its districts, with residential buildings, schools, and kindergartens damaged by massive shelling attacks and airstrikes.
While Deputy Mayor Nadiia Pytiukova says most damaged facilities have already been restored or are in the process of restoration, even today the consequences of the hostilities at the start of the full-scale invasion can still be seen in the city centre.
The city community deliberately chose a broader path to recovery — not just repairing what was destroyed, but, together with international partners, building a comprehensive vision of the city’s renewal. Okhtyrka aims not merely to return to what it once was, but to create a modern, convenient, and accessible urban infrastructure for everyone.
Where the recovery began
After active hostilities in the area ended, Okhtyrka began shaping a clear vision for its further development. To move forward in a systematic and consistent way, the city authorities, together with civil society and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Japan, developed two key strategic documents: the Recovery and Development Plan of the Territorial Community, and an Anti-Corruption Programme. Community participation in discussions about the future changes was an important part of this process.
UNDP and the Government of Denmark helped create conditions to ensure public engagement in developing solutions and setting priorities.
“We all came together — probably for the first time like this,” says Nataliia Krynychna, the head of the NGO Impulse Hub.
“We’ve got a lot of civil society organizations and an active community, but we’d never worked together so cohesively. Everyone agreed that we needed a single, clear development strategy for the community. Before, there were separate documents, but no integrated vision.”
Importantly, the process of creating the strategic documents was completely open. Residents were involved in the discussions — from civil society organizations and businesses, to active residents from various neighbourhoods. Discussions were held in the form of working groups, meetings, and consultations, at which everyone could express their needs and vision. The community did not merely approve ready-made decisions — it became a co-creator of the plan.
“A lot of attention was paid to supporting local people and initiatives — culture, history, youth, people with reduced mobility, craft businesses — everything that is important for preserving the community’s authenticity,” Krynychna points out.
The first step was a comprehensive assessment of the city’s condition. irtually every district has sustained damage — and some of it, city officials explain, only became apparent over time: roofs began to leak, structures sagged, and engineering networks failed.
“The only building not yet restored is Building No. 103,” says Deputy Mayor Nadiia Pytiukova. “Everything else is either under restoration or has already been restored using the city budget. Because of the way thermobaric bombs work, it’s very difficult to determine the extent of damage immediately – often it’s invisible at first, and only later does internal damage become apparent.”
One of the first steps taken after the end of active hostilities was to restore the work of local government bodies. With the support of UNDP and the EU, an updated Administrative Service Centre (ASC) began operating in the city — it’s a modern centre located in a renovated building and equipped with all the necessary technology.
This made it possible to quickly restore the governance of the community, to ensure residents had access to key services, and to give the city a foundation for further recovery.
However, city officials saw that minor repairs were not enough: the city needed a long-term vision. With UNDP support, a team of experts conducted a detailed inventory of all community assets — from industrial zones to building facades and minor roads.
Based on this analysis, a document was created that city officials jokingly call the “Recovery Bible” — a list of priorities, budgets, and solutions designed to produce a new quality of life in the city.
“A whole group worked on recovery, and several specialists provided services to analyse our community and its particular needs,” explains Pytiukova. “They carried out a huge amount of analytical work to prioritize projects, improve life in the community, and make it comfortable for everyone – from the elderly to children.”
Following the analysis, it became clear that two key priorities for the community were to restore the energy sector and to create an accessible, barrier-free environment.
The war has brought the issue of energy security to the fore. The city is working to restore critical infrastructure to pre-war levels while also laying the foundations for a “green” recovery — transitioning to modern energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources.
The second priority is accessibility. More than 200 people in Okhtyrka use wheelchairs, and a large number of other residents have a range of different needs. Currently, the urban environment — with its narrow sidewalks and streets congested with cars — is not the most inclusive of spaces.
“‘Better than it was’ is not just a slogan — it means creating practical, new, comfortable conditions so the city can be navigated conveniently in any circumstances, whether you’re in a wheelchair or if you have visual impairments,” says Pytiukova.
All new projects are now considered through the lens of barrier-free accessibility, she adds.
At the same time, the city has received help in building its capacity. With UNDP support, comprehensive training was conducted for local authority officials and representatives of civil society in areas ranging from needs assessment methodology to project proposal writing. As a result, the community can now more confidently set priorities and prepare higher quality funding applications, strengthening its ability to implement plans.
In addition, during the training programme, the Okhtyrka community team developed project proposals aimed at ensuring quality and accessible education. As a result, UNDP, with financial support from the Government of Japan, purchased furniture for 10 community schools, as well as STEM equipment that helps modernize the learning process and update education conditions for children.
A new creative space, accessible to all
A flagship project in Okhtyrka’s renewal is the Children’s Art School. While the two-story facility still reflects its Soviet-era origins, it remains a vital community hub where hundreds of students continue to cultivate their creativity.
The insitution was selected to participate in the Universal Design School with the support of UNDP and the Government of Sweden. The school’s reconstruction became part of a broader urban transformation — creating an accessible space that everyone can use.
“We worked on the project to create a space accessible to all, regardless of age or physical ability,” says Iryna Kriuchko, a specialist at the Department of Finance and Economy. “Participating in the Universal Design School helped us make the space truly accessible – and it opened our eyes to problems that had always been there, but had gone unnoticed.”
The renovation project foresees the second floor being used to house modern creative spaces – a pottery room, a computer classroom, and rooms for clubs and holding competitions. The first floor will become a public space, where parents can wait for their children in comfort and where exhibition areas will be located.
A key advantage of this facility is its spacious and convenient shelter – a legacy of Soviet times – which is already used as a workspace during air raid alerts. Inside, restrooms have been installed, partial renovations have been completed, and exhibitions and other events are being held, allowing the overall space to be used as efficiently as possible.
Special attention in the recovery process is paid to inclusivity. Architect Mykhailo Kovaliov emphasizes that the reconstruction will be comprehensive, taking into account all elements of a barrier-free space.
“Our idea was to take the Children’s Art School and create a concept based on accessibility requirements,” Kovaliov notes. “The space should be accessible not only inside the building but also outside, taking into account the nearest public transport stops. As part of the reconstruction, we plan to redesign the parking area, and install a panoramic elevator connecting the second floor, first floor, and the shelter. The area in front of the school will be expanded and landscaped, with sidewalks and tactile navigation. A ramp will also be installed, with a slope meeting national building standards.”
Work has already begun — the nearest public transport stop is being upgraded first, as it will become part of a future accessible route to the school.
In addition, the project has been included in the Portfolio of Community Recovery and Development Projects. This means it will be presented to donors as a priority project, giving the community more opportunities for its further implementation.
Environmental safety
Urban quality of life is also shaped by less visible factors, such as environmental safety. For years, Okhtyrka lacked systematic air quality monitoring despite its proximity to industrial sites and busy roadways.
This gap has now been closed through a phased regional initiative. Following successful pilots, a state-of-the-art monitoring station – supported by UNDP and the government of Sweden – was installed in Okhtyrka. The station provides 24/7 data on sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and organic compounds, ensuring continuous oversight of critical environmental parameters.
“The first stations were installed in Konotop, but the system needed to be expanded, so we turned to UNDP for support,” explains Iryna Kashpur, Director of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Sumy Regional State Administration.
“We got it, and the next station was set up in Okhtyrka. Now people can monitor the air quality online in real time. By the end of 2025, we plan to install two more stations.”
This is not only about informing the public — it’s a monitoring tool. Data from the stations has legal force, making it possible to document violations and hold polluters accountable. This approach helps Ukraine align with best European practices for reducing anthropogenic (industrial) environmental impact, and ultimately making people’s lives safer.
“It’s about openness and responsibility, because it allows us to determine the sources of pollution and involve regulatory bodies to conduct inspections and clearly identify those responsible,” Kashpur adds.
A city returning to life
Today, Okhtyrka is gradually recovering from its misfortunes. With the help of active local authorities and international partners, the city is beginning to implement important projects that affect its resident’s quality of life — making spaces more accessible, services more convenient, and infrastructure safer and more modern.
These steps are not just about rebuilding —they are about creating conditions in which people want to live, stay, and return. Families are coming back to Okhtyrka, and people from frontline areas are finding refuge here. The city is striving to give everyone a sense of stability and the opportunity to build their futures.
There is still much more to do, but the community has already taken the most important step — it has determined its priorities and has started moving forward.
Photo credit: Kostiantyn Levchenko / UNDP in Ukraine
The story was prepared as part of the campaign “Ukraine Delivers,” a joint initiative by the Ministry for the Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
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