The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved amendments to the State Strategy of Regional Development, which define the functional types of territories and the development priorities for the communities belonging to each of them.

Vitalii Bezgin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine, confirmed this.

He stated that work on this decision had been ongoing since 2022, when the functional types of territories were enshrined in legislation. Members of Parliament, central executive bodies, local government associations, and representatives of the civil society sector were involved in its development.

The adopted amendments also comply with one of Ukraine’s obligations following the screening of legislation with the European Union under Chapter 22 of the negotiations “Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments”.

The new approach provides for regional policy to take into account the different conditions and needs of communities, rather than applying a standardised solution across the whole country.

In particular, for:

• 215 communities of recovery territories, the priorities have been identified as security and recovery;
• 85 mountainous communities – accessibility, local economic development, and the efficient use of natural resources;
• 199 steppe communities – water security, adaptation to climate change, and economic development.

Other functional types of territories and their corresponding development priorities have also been identified.

‘This provides the state with a clear guide on where to direct resources, which projects to support, and what tools specific communities need,’ noted Vitalii Bezgin.

The approach, based on functional types of territories, will further be integrated into strategic planning, development and recovery programmes, as well as into the public investment system.