An event for the heads of military administrations of Kakhovka District of Kherson Oblast was held in Mykolaiv, hosted by the team of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in Kherson Oblast. The event offered a platform not only for sharing experiences and building sustainable cooperation, but also for strengthening horizontal ties between military administrations.
Oksana Siliukova, the Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD in Kherson Oblast, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, stressing that U-LEAD did not just respond to challenges but offered comprehensive solutions and helped to increase the management capacity of municipalities.
“There are a lot of challenges now — that much is clear. At the same time, we see an increase in the internal strength of municipalities, their ability to adapt, work in difficult conditions and find solutions. That is why U-LEAD does not just respond to daily needs but also directs its efforts to increase the capacity of local self-government and military administrations to overcome these challenges in a systemic manner. I am delighted that U-LEAD with Europe is positioned not just as a consultant, but as a full-fledged partner, ready to join in solving complex issues together with municipalities,” said Oksana Siliukova.
The centrepiece of the meeting was the presentation of Viktoriia Kopchak, Adviser on Decentralisation and Local Self-Government of the Regional Office of U-LEAD in Kherson Oblast. She spoke on the management of municipal property in municipalities undergoing relocation. This is a true pain point, given the significant number of municipal properties that require legal and administration support during relocation or changes in the management structure.
The presentation included specific cases, examples of solutions, as well as step-by-step procedures for non-standard situations. The heads of military administrations actively participated in the discussion, analysed complex situations using the cases from their own municipalities, received professional support and discussed potential courses of action.
Dmytro Liakhno, the Head of Hornostaivka Settlement Military Administration, reaffirmed the importance of considering key aspects of running effective citizen support centres (humanitarian hubs) and signing intermunicipal cooperation agreements.
“The topic that we discussed today calls for both clarification and the development of specific solutions. Among the main tasks in our work is social assistance to IDPs and residents of municipalities through humanitarian hubs. The information received will be useful in day-to-day work, especially in terms of signing partnership agreements between municipalities and organising comprehensive support for their residents,” said Dmytro Liakhno.
In addition to the professional content, the event played an important communication role. After a long period of remote interactions, the meeting in the format of a live exchange of experiences strengthened ties between municipal officials and U-LEAD team and established closer communication for further support and guidance. This is vital for municipalities operating in vulnerable environments, as prompt coordination enables faster decision-making and tailoring tools to real challenges.
Nataliia Stadnik, the Head of Kakhovka District Military Administration, believes that these meetings should be held frequently on various topics.
“We learned about many new practical cases that are already successful and can be scaled to other municipalities. This experience and knowledge in municipal property management are highly relevant now,” added Nataliia Stadnik.
U-LEAD with Europe continues to support municipalities in complex processes of transformation and management in wartime conditions. These events prove that even the most difficult challenges can facilitate strengthening capacity, building inter-municipal cooperation and sustainable development of municipalities.
“In wartime, feeling the support from U-LEAD with Europe is very important. We appreciate the advice and guidance provided by U-LEAD experts. Meetings such as today’s provide many answers to pressing questions concerning our day-to-day work,” said Olena Peleshok, the Head of Prysyvash Rural Military Administration of Kakhovka District of Kherson Oblast.
