The rural municipality of Velyka Mykhailivka, sprawling in the southeastern part of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and bordering the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, found itself in a difficult situation due to active hostilities. In light of more than 200 damaged buildings and facilities in the municipality, the need for support and resources is extremely urgent. In these trying times, U-LEAD with Europe Programme provided extensive assistance to Velyka Mykhailivka, contributing to its recovery and development. This was stated by the head of the municipality, Yevhenii Fisak, at a meeting with the Regional Office of U-LEAD in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
“Since the outset of the full-scale invasion, various charities and organisations have provided support and assistance to our municipality. Among the juggernauts is the U-LEAD with Europe Programme,” said Mr Fisak.
According to him, the Alga Pegasus front-end loader received from U-LEAD is used for emergency response and recovery, repairs and cleaning. In addition, earlier the Programme provided the municipality with international technical assistance in the form of a support package “Working Tools”, which came in handy for the restoration of damaged buildings and facilities.
Among the key elements of the assistance were two Renault Masters. These buses enable the prompt functioning of the commission inspecting damaged facilities, transport international technical assistance and contribute to improving the logistics of the municipality. No less important was the powerful 540 kW PRAMAC generator, which was handed over to the Velyka Mykhailivka Lyceum to ensure its continuing operation through the blackouts.
“Together with U-LEAD, the municipality developed a working project ‘Reconstruction of the Building of the Velyka Mykhailivka Lyceum with the Addition of a Bomb Shelter’. The project has received a positive expert opinion and will create safe conditions for learning. In addition, the municipality successfully implemented the Safe Space project, installing a modular protective structure in one of the social facilities,” the head of the municipality said.
U-LEAD experts also helped the Velyka Mykhailivka municipality in developing the Municipal Development Strategy until 2027: “This document has become an important guideline for the further development of the municipality,” stressed Mr Fisak.
The municipality also joined the Building Ukraine Together (BUR) project, which became a driver for the local volunteering movement. BURchik, a volunteer campaign held in the municipality, is a great example of residents coming together for the bettering of their village. The project was implemented with the support of U-LEAD as well. The Safe Space project focused on the installation of a modular protective structure in one of the village council’s social facilities.
Its effective work brought the Velyka Mykhailivka municipality recognition at the state level. On the Day of Local Self-Government, the head of the municipality, Yevhenii Fisak, was awarded the Order of Merit of the 3rd degree.
Summarising the achievements of the municipality, Olena Tertyshna, Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, noted:
“The experience of the Velyka Mykhailivka municipality is a testament to the possibility, with the effective use of international assistance and cooperation with international partners, to successfully restore and develop territories even in wartime. Their example inspires and motivates other municipalities to take strong action that would strengthen our country.”
