During a working visit to the Kharkiv region by Polaris Programme management, attended by Alexander Mazurkin (Programme Director, SALAR International), Susanna Dellans (Team Leader of Polaris and SALAR International Representative in Ukraine) and Programme experts, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration and the Polaris Programme.

The document outlines a number of initiatives aimed at supporting community recovery, improving public service delivery, and strengthening community capacity.

‘By the orders of Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, we are working closely with our international partners to rebuild our region. The memorandum signed with the Polaris Programme will enable us to implement important initiatives, ranging from rebuilding educational infrastructure to reconstructing critical facilities. This is an important step towards making our communities more resilient,’ emphasised Yevhen Ivanov, Deputy Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.

The parties also discussed initiatives implemented in the communities of the region, new infrastructure projects, and plans to open a situation centre for monitoring security, emergencies, and operational management under martial law.

‘We are delighted to be in the Kharkiv region, working alongside communities in the areas where support is most needed. Despite the extremely challenging security situation, the Kharkiv region is showing great leadership and unity. Together, we will prioritise community recovery, effective governance, access to services and education development, based on data, dialogue and a long-term development vision,’ said Susanna Dellas, Polaris programme team leader and SALAR International representative in Ukraine.

During their working visit, the Polaris delegation visited the Programme’s partner communities in the Kharkiv region, including: Valky, Zlatopil, Blyzniuky, and Chuhuiv communities