Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast, 25 September 2024 – One of the most seriously damaged apartment buildings in the town of Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast, has been fully restored under an initiative of the United24 state-run recovery charity, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine providing technical assistance.

Hostomel was among the first towns to face Russian military occupation in 2022, and suffered significant destruction. The repaired apartment building, located at 1 Rekunova Street in the eastern part of the town, was extensively damaged by a blast that struck two sections of the building. As part of the restoration, one section of the building was completely demolished and rebuilt. 

Additional repairs included the installation of new insulation, the replacement of windows and doors, roof repairs, and improvements to both shared premises and surrounding areas. These enhancements will provide improved living conditions for nearly 300 residents, who can now return to their homes. The total cost of the project amounted to UAH 55 million or about US $1.33 million

Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine and the Minister of Communities and Territories Development, expressed his gratitude to United24, UNDP, the Kyiv Regional State Administration, contractors, and everyone involved in the reconstruction of this building. “Together with international partners, through the United24 project, we embarked on this journey. A tremendous amount of work has been done. The restoration of this building is an example of how reconstruction should take place – based on people's requests, with transparency and accountability,” he said.

This initiative is part of the broader “Ukraine Recovery” programme financed through the United 24 crowdsourcing platform. The project aims to restore 18 apartment buildings across Kyiv Oblast, including ones in Irpin, Borodyanka, Hostomel, and the villages of Buzova and Mylia. 

Restoration work has already been completed at four sites. In total, the initiative aims to rebuild homes for more than 4,000 residents across Kyiv Oblast. UNDP is providing technical expertise and ensuring transparency in the execution of all repair processes. 

Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative to Ukraine, stressed that the reconstruction of housing infrastructure, such as this apartment building in Hostomel, is a vital step towards rebuilding lives and restoring communities impacted by the war. “UNDP is proud to be a part of this effort, working alongside the Ukrainian government and the United24 platform to ensure that families can return to their homes safely and with dignity,” Politis said. “This project is a testament to the strength of collective action and our shared commitment to Ukraine's recovery.”

Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, said the partnership is vital for the restoration in Kyiv Oblast. “The swift restoration of critical infrastructure in Kyiv Oblast began the moment our communities were liberated,” Kravchenko said. “United24 and UNDP have been invaluable partners in this process, providing the expertise and resources needed to accelerate recovery. We’re deeply grateful for their support as we work to restore and strengthen our communities."

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