KYIV, 17 June 2023 – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner complemented his mission to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv with a trip to the nearby city of Irpin, which bore the brunt of attacks in the early days of the Russian full-scale invasion. There he met with residents, local authorities, and entrepreneurs working to sweep away the ashes of war and rebuild the city. 

Throughout his visit, Steiner emphasized the role of UNDP as an enabler committed to bringing together various partners to ensure Ukraine's recovery. "We're not just about physical reconstruction. Our focus is also on creating opportunities and empowering people to regain control over their lives," he said.

Clearance and Recovery in Irpin: Steiner's first stop was at a debris removal site, where he met with Sofia Krotyk, a local resident whose home was destroyed in the attacks. He acknowledged the local community's bravery and solidarity during the invasion, recognizing their efforts in safeguarding residents. UNDP has provided technical assistance for debris clearance, recycling some eight thousand truck-loads (80,000m3) of debris from 440 locations into reconstruction materials for road repair and infrastructure works.

Demining through the partnership with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine: Steiner next met with representatives from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU)to discuss the mine situation. Ukraine, he noted, ranks among the countries most impacted by landmines, with 30 percent of its territory potentially affected. The UNDP Administrator underscored the importance of the long-standing partnership between UNDP and SESU in overcoming the effects of war and promoting Ukraine's fast and safe recovery. With the support of UNDP and other partners, Ukrainian teams have cleared 540,000 mines and unexploded ordnance, benefiting nearly 3.8 million people.

United24 Initiative: Enabling Safe Returns: Steiner, together with Natalia Kozlovska, the Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, Ruslan Kravchenko, the Head of Kyiv Regional Administration, and Oleksandr Markushyn, the Head of Irpin Municipality, attended the inauguration of a construction site of one of 18 apartment buildings being restored under a collaborative effort between UNDP, the Ministry for Restoration of Ukraine, and the Kyiv Regional State Administration. 

The project, which is benefitting over 4,000 residents, was financed through the UNITED24 crowdsourcing platform. Launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the platform serves as the country's principal hub for collecting charitable contributions. The restoration incorporates UNDP's "build forward better" principles, focusing on thermal modernization to lower energy consumption and reduce the region's carbon footprint. The initiative prioritized enhancing local governance, transparency, and accountability, providing quality assurance support throughout all planning, procurement, implementation, and monitoring stages.

"We're working with the government of Ukraine and local authorities across the country to support large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation," Steiner noted. "We will continue to walk this difficult road together with Ukraine for as long as we are needed. Our collective efforts seek to improve the quality of life for the people who call these buildings and cities home."

About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at www.undp.org/ukraine.  

Media enquiries: For additional information or to arrange interviews, please contact Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org.