Cabinet resolution #97 of January 31, 2025 

Decision-maker: the Cabinet 

Status: in effect since January 31, 2025 

Who is affected: the Ministry for Community and Territories Development, oblast and Kyiv city state administrations (military administrations), territorial communities via village, settlement, and city councils, military administrations, and residents of territorial communities 

Summary: 

  • the Cabinet launched an experimental project for community partnership coordinated by the Ministry for Community and Territories Development. Its participants include: 
    • oblast and Kyiv city state administrations (military administrations), 
    • territorial communities via village, settlement, and city councils, 
    • military administrations 
  • the Ministry for Community and Territories Development must create a temporary advisory body to facilitate partnership and systematic interaction between territorial communities as a consultative and advisory body, tasked with providing methodological, organizational, communication, and monitoring support to participants of the experimental project. 
  • the concept of “fortress community” is introduced: a territorial community located less than 100 kilometers from the frontline or the state border with the aggressor state 
  • partnerships between communities and fortress communities are to be established via a memorandum 
  • decisions regarding participation in the experimental project are made by the respective village, settlement, or city council, or the military administration 
  • communities can agree on one or multiple forms of support for fortress communities, including: 
    • humanitarian assistance: ensuring the population has access to basic products — food, hygiene supplies, medications, drinking water, clothing, and other essential goods 
    • conducting emergency restorations by the partner community in the fortress community on residential, social, transport, communal, or energy infrastructure objects 
    • free transfer to the fortress community of equipment or materials necessary for conducting emergency recovery and repair work and ensuring the community’s vital activity, or free transfer of such property (equipment or materials) for temporary use 
    • organization of cultural and educational events in sister communities 
    • medical and social assistance 
    • relocation of economic entities: assistance in moving enterprises from fortress communities to other areas to preserve their economic activity 
    • transportation and logistical support: organization of transportation of humanitarian cargo, passengers, equipment, as well as meeting logistical needs for support activities 
    • direct financial assistance by inter-budget transfers 
    • assistance for volunteer activities: organizing, coordinating, and supporting volunteer initiatives aimed at supporting fortress communities 
    • strengthening personnel potential: sending qualified workers to fortress communities to perform repairs, medical, educational, or other tasks necessary for the community’s vital activity 
    • assistance in the evacuation and placement of the population: organizing the evacuation of residents living in fortress community areas, including providing transportation, logistics, and temporary housing, providing essential goods, and coordinating with local executive bodies, charitable organizations, development partners, and humanitarian aid providers 
    • creating safe conditions for children living in fortress community areas, including educational, cultural, and sports activities, ensuring their access to education, psychological support, and arranging children’s spaces in temporary placement areas 
    • providing psychological support: organizing the work of mobile psychological teams to assist residents living in fortress community areas in adapting to new conditions, particularly internally displaced persons, children, the elderly, and those who have experienced trauma 
    • assistance in socialization: employment, placement of children in educational institutions, informing about the infrastructure and opportunities of the receiving territorial community, etc. 
    • organization of sports events 
    • support for war veterans and their family members: providing medical, rehabilitation, and psychological support 
    • other forms of support not prohibited by law
    • one of the parties to the memorandum, by their joint decision, informs the advisory body within three days from the date the memorandum is concluded, and until its establishment — informs the Ministry for Community and Territories Development about the initiation of partnership and periodically provides updates about the state of execution of agreements. 

What is right: 

  • the bill will promote deeper cooperation between communities 
  • communities affected by Russian aggression will be more resilient.