Column by Oleksandra Azarkhina, cofounder We build Ukrane think tank for Vertical Urbanism

War has expedited the process of rethinking urban planning and development, forced to reimagine what makes a city truly sustainable.  The lessons learned here will be invaluable for cities around the world.

Nearly three years of conflict have inflicted over $152 billion in direct damages. Officially, 237,000 damaged and destroyed real estate objects have been verified. Cities like Bakhmut, Sievierodonetsk, and Chasiv Yar, once thriving industrial hubs, have been reduced to rubble.

War erases the faces of cities, so the architecture of Eastern Ukraine is increasingly similar to that of war-torn Syria or anywhere else, where destruction takes over creation.

Yet, even in the face of such devastation, Ukrainian cities are demonstrating extraordinary resilience. Cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, while far from the frontlines, have endured constant threats and infrastructure challenges. Despite these hardships, there is an unwavering commitment to rebuilding.

I’m a former deputy minister with a focus on municipal development and recovery. During the first two years of the full-scale war, I've witnessed firsthand the extraordinary efforts of government, local authorities, and communities to rebuild. The reconstruction of de-occupied territories began within days of liberation, showcasing an unprecedented speed and scale of response. With the continuation of the war, it becomes more and more difficult to rebuild, first of all, due to a lack of funds.

At the same time, a pressing question facing Ukraine is: how can we rebuild our cities to be better, stronger, and safer?

Safety has become the top priority, with citizens seeking housing primarily based on the accessibility of shelters rather than factors like proximity to good schools, and schools themselves need to have shelter first of all.

The urban landscape has transformed, with trees now serving as a resource for defensive structures. However, safety extends beyond civil defense.

Therefore, the first practical lesson from Ukraine is: (i) the resilience of cities during conflict is fundamentally the same as that required to address climate change and other global challenges. We are developing solutions to create independent and efficient supply chains for essential goods, particularly food, to ensure the basic needs of our cities are met.

Additionally, we are focusing on decentralized energy, water, and heat systems to ensure critical infrastructure remains accessible even when central networks are compromised.

Before the war, climate change was a major concern for me. However, the invasion has shifted our priorities, albeit in an unexpected way. As Russian missiles destroy both urban areas and natural environments, the need for sustainable and resilient infrastructure has become even more urgent. The damaged energy infrastructure has accelerated our efforts to develop alternative energy sources and microgrids.

The second lesson (ii): "Go local!" should become the new motto of healthy communities worldwide. Communities should be strong, self-sufficient, flexible, united, and their members should be proactive. During the war in Ukraine, we began to trust each other more, as evidenced by research. If before the full-scale war, the level of trust in residents of their city was 35%, then after the beginning of the invasion, it was already 62%.

At the same time, our society is very traumatized. Military personnel, residents of frontline communities, residents of rear cities, internally displaced persons, and refugees abroad - all these people have very different experiences of war, and it is already obvious that this will complicate the process of post-war reintegration.

I am a supporter of the approach that joint work on the restoration, transformation modernization of our cities should become therapy and medicine for damaged social cohesion. This means involving citizens in decision-making processes, promoting direct democracy, and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. These principles are not only relevant for post-war societies but also for any community facing challenges such as social isolation, migration crises, or losing the motivation of young people to create, develop, and feel part of the community.

The final lesson from Ukraine's experience is (iii) the transformative power of digital tools. Ukraine has rapidly developed a suite of digital solutions. I had the honor of being a member of the team involved in the launch of a verified registry of damaged property, an online platform for housing restoration applications, and a comprehensive geographic information system.

One of the most innovative solutions is DREAM, a digital platform that empowers communities to raise funds, manage projects, and engage citizens in the rebuilding process. This unique platform has no global equivalent.

By leveraging digital technologies, we can improve transparency, reduce bureaucracy, and foster social cohesion. Digital tools can also help us create more resilient and sustainable cities by providing new opportunities for citizens and enabling more effective urban planning. We aim to create a digital infrastructure through which everyone can contribute to the reconstruction and development of their hometown in a convenient way.

After all, the heart of urbanism is not streets or houses, but a community, a community of people united by a common experience of using space. Digital tools add a new layer to the perception and use of physical space, and can help sustain communities even when they have lost their physical integrity.

Despite the challenges of war, many Ukrainians are full of optimism for a better future. And I believe that in the end, we will be able to restore our communities and cities more resilient, sustainable and united.